Norwich City Women put on a five-star performance against Needham Market in the third round qualifying of the Adobe Women's FA Cup.
Early pressure was established by the hosts, who enjoyed most of the possession in and around the Needham 18-yard box during the opening 10 minutes. Barring a handful of direct and defence-splitting passes denied by the offside flag, the game's early tempo remained subdued.
After a stop-start quarter of an hour, the visitors came close to opening the scoring, as Cate Jackson rattled the crossbar from long range.
The 20th minute would see Norwich’s first big chance coming via Millie Daviss, who was denied well at the near post by Danielle Clarke in the Needham goal.
Six minutes later, City would get the breakthrough via some lovely end-to-end football. Quantrill distributed to Ceri Flye, who picked out Shannon Shaw with a perfectly-weighted pass.
Shaw looked up and saw the incoming Natasha Snelling, whose first-time effort would kiss the post on the way in.
The Canaries would ride this momentum and continue to cause problems. In the 34th minute, another dangerous cross would find Smith, who was denied by some brave goalkeeping from Clarke. Daviss was onto the rebound in a flash to double Norwich’s advantage.
Some more defensive heroics and a good stop from Clark to deny Shaw’s point-blank header in the 45th minute would ensure the score remained 2-0 as the clock struck 45. However, in the fourth minute of additional time, Snelling would latch onto a deflected Liv Cook effort to lash the ball home for three.
It was a also fast start to the second half, with Daviss again proving to be a catalyst for the Canaries. But it would be a signature long throw-in from Lauren Tomlinson that would provide for Snelling’s hat-trick in the 50th minute with a looping finish over the ‘keeper.
A procession of crosses and corners would provide moments of danger for Norwich as the second half progressed, but the final touch was proving more difficult to come by.
A late break of Norwich’s defensive line gave Needham a golden opportunity to claw one back, but the effort was dragged wide of the mark.
Moments later, Daviss dug out yet another brilliant cross on the by-line to find an unmarked Holly Kennard in the area to head home and seal the deal for City.
The Canaries return to The Nest on Sunday, October 20, when they host Actonians FAWNL Plate third round.
Norwich City: Quantrill, Flye, Morran (Symonds 60), Daviss, Smith (Cook 43), Snelling (Kennard 77), Medd-Gill, Moore, Tomlinson (Densley 77), Shaw (Booty 60), Strauss
Goals: Snelling (26, 45+4, 50,) Daviss (34), Kennard (87)
Subs not used: Johnston, Locker
Needham Market: Clark, Brett, McGrath (Osborn 84), Jackson, Stephenson, Newly, Posnett, Topple , Slater, Brame (Barrett 84), Thomas (Baggott 14)
Attendance: 305