Olivia Cook’s late strike ensured a vital three points as the Canaries overcame a stern AFC Sudbury Women in a 1-0 win at The Nest.
Andy Cook made seven changes to the side that beat Chatham Town on the weekend, only Ceri Flye, Hope Strauss, Eloise Morran and Sarah Quantrill keeping their places.
A slightly delayed and drizzly evening kick-off saw an energetic opening five minutes, with both sides getting stuck in from the off. Shannon Shaw had the first sight of goal for the hosts but was swiftly smothered by Nina Meollo.
Little would separate the sides beyond a handful of half-chances for Norwich in the opening 20 minutes as the ball refused to stick for either side.
The visitors would continue to grow into the game, with Flye thwarting their efforts on a number of occasions.
A looping Sudbury free-kick to the far post would prove their most potent attack of the first half, drawing a conclusion to a quiet opening 45 minutes.
It was the visitors who would then carry this momentum into the second half, getting out the block quickly and winning a series of corners.
A couple of dangerous crosses and a speculative shot from range by Megan Todd would keep Meollo busy as the game approached the hour mark, but clear-cut opportunities still evaded both sides.
Arguably the best chance of the game for the visitors came in the 67th minute, forcing a brave close-range stop from Quantrill. Sudbury would break again just eight minutes later, bringing the best out of a stern Norwich City defence to force a goal-kick following a series of efforts.
The Canaries continued to push and ask questions of Sudbury, and in the 82nd minute, the pressure paid off. The ball was switched to Cook on the right side, and her perseverance paid dividends as she poked the ball home at the second time of asking.
Despite absorbing pressure and dropping off somewhat, City continued to press for a second. First, Symonds fired slightly wide of the mark before Flye went inches away with a stylish flick from a corner.
After nearly 10 minutes of additional time, The Nest could breathe a sigh of relief at the referee’s whistle to draw a close to the game.
The Canaries will now have a week off before returning to The Nest on Sunday, February 23, when they host Chesham United.
Norwich City: Quantrill; Medd-Gill, Flye, Strauss, Bishop; Morran (Symonds 75), Hailes (Smith 59), Moore (Cook 61); Todd (C), Densley (Kennard 61), Shaw (Snelling 61).
Goals: Cook (82)
AFC Sudbury: Meollo; Penny, Jeffery, Bezant, Rossiter, Lambe, Goodwin, Frazzoni, Drake, Edwards, Slater
Subs: Newcomb, Provan, Carpenter, Barrett, Jarvis
HT: 0-0
FT: 1-0
Venue: The Nest
Attendance: 159