Goals from Sarah Wiltshire and Bella Simmons ensured the Canaries’ final game of 2024 would end in defeat, 2-0 against Cambridge United
Norwich got off to the faster start of the two sides, having the ball in the back of the net inside two minutes. Snelling latched onto a great ball to the back post but was adjudged offside in the build-up.
Holly Kennard and Millie Daviss enjoyed some positive moments down the right side but couldn’t amount to any clear-cut chances for their early efforts.
Despite this good start, the hosts would win a penalty on 18 minutes, against the run of play. A defence-splitting pass forced Sarah Quantrill off her line, with the Cambridge forward getting to the ball first. Wiltshire would step up and open the scoring with 19 minutes played.
The Canaries would respond well, with arguably their biggest chance of the game coming in the form of a header that was glanced centimetres wide by Shannon Shaw in the 24th minute.
Cambridge would continue to play on the break and cause problems in doing so. In the 33rd minute, Quantrill was pounced on after troubling high ball, resulting in a second for the hosts.
Another couple of good saves from both ‘keepers and a near-miss from a Snelling volley would draw a close to the first half.
A triple change at the half would look to inject freshness into City legs from the off and seemed to do just that early on.
Ten minutes into the second half, Norwich were within inches of a response. A well-delivered Freya Symonds corner caused panic in the Cambridge box, and after some resilient defending, the ball would eventually fall back to Symonds who was denied brilliantly at the near post by Lauren Webb.
In the 70th minute, the winger would have a near-identical effort stopped by an even more impressive save from the United ‘keeper.
An uneventful closing 20 minutes, dominated by a resilient Cambridge United low block would ensure the points go the way of the home side.
The Canaries will return to league action on Sunday, January 5, when they travel to London Seaward.
Cambridge United: Webb, Rouse, Jackson, Wiltshire, Hubbard, Stojko-Down, Finneran, Wodhams, Cobb, Gillies, Simmons
Subs: Shults, Marden, Edgar, Plummer
Goals: Wiltshire (19), Simmons (38)
Norwich City: Quantrill, Bishop, Flye, Morran (Knights 46), Todd, Daviss (Symonds 46), Snelling, Tomlinson (Moore 67), Shaw (Hailes 67), Strauss (Medd-Gill 46), Kennard
HT: 2-0
FT: 2-0
Venue: St Neots Football Club