Norwich City Women returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 1-0 win on the road against London Seaward in their first Division One South East fixture of 2025.
Hope Strauss' penalty was the difference between the two sides, as the centre-back converted from the spot for the sixth time this season.
Andy Cook made five changes to the starting 11 that lost 2-0 to Cambridge United in City's final outing before Christmas, with captain Megan Todd and Eloise Morran missing through illness.
The first effort for the Canaries came just after two minutes as a Shannon Shaw cross found Lauren Tomlinson approaching the box, but Seaward stopper Alex Baker was there to pounce on the header.
The winger then tried to return the favour for Shaw with a low cross into the box shortly after, but Baker was there to scoop up before the City striker could get a touch to it.
Shaw did have the ball in the back of the net after 15 minutes but was flagged for offside in the build-up.
Play evened out for the next 20 minutes as the hosts tried to find their footing in a game that had been controlled by City.
Tomlinson continued to excel down the left flank, her pace and ball control driving much of the Canaries' attacking momentum.
Seaward had an opportunity to find an opener but their only effort of the half sailed straight to Sarah Quantrill who caught with ease.
The deadlock was broken when City were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box, Strauss stepping up to convert from the spot.
London Seaward opened the second half with a burst of energy, forcing Quantrill into an important parry with just two minutes gone.
The City number one smothered another dangerous Seaward attack shortly after, a looping ball catching out the Norwich back line.
Both Olivia Cook and Strauss had shots on target following this, but neither challenged Baker enough to extend the Canaries' lead.
A lively spell from Norwich after their substitutions saw a close-range effort from Shaw blocked by Baker, followed by a strike from Issy Moore on the edge of the area that fell just wide.
Substitute Sienna Booty then tried her luck from range, forcing Baker to punch wide.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock, Freya Symonds had a go from the edge of the area, Shaw ready to pounce on the rebound but again Baker did excellent in quick succession to deny City a second.
The final chance of the game came in the first minute of stoppage time, a free-kick for the hosts that evaded the City wall but fell narrowly wide of Quantrill's goal.
City are next in action at home on Sunday, January 12, against Ashford Town in another FAWNL clash.
London Seaward: Baker, Rogers, Harris, South, Mayne, McKevitt, Malcolm, Butler, Cannon (C), Awan (Cianter 80), O'Brien
Unused subs: Mercer, Aungier, Kekere-Erun
Norwich City: Quantrill (C); Daviss, Flye, Strauss, Moore; Hailes (Booty 73), Medd-Gill, Tomlinson (Densley 73), Symonds; Cook, Shaw
Unused subs: Locker
Goals: Strauss (39 pen)
Booking: Strauss (70) Quantrill (80)
HT: 0-1
FT: 0-1
Venue: Techsoc.com Stadium