Women's pre-season report | Norwich City 1-1 Moneyfields

Norwich City Women closed their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tier 4 opposition Moneyfields on Sunday afternoon at the Avant Training Centre.

Norwich City Women closed their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tier 4 opposition Moneyfields on Sunday afternoon at the Avant Training Centre.

Freya Symonds was on the scoresheet for the Canaries, converting from the spot after a foul on Olivia Cook.

Andy Cook made nine changes at half-time, only Evie Williams and Holly Mears keeping their place in both halves.

Mears stepped up to replace Sarah Quantrill, who picked up a hand injury last weekend in City's pre-season tie against Watford.

City had the first chance in the opening minutes of play, Ellie Smith with some great hold-up play on the edge of the box to slot a ball to Lara Densley waiting in the wings, but the forward's effort was blocked and cleared by the Moneys' goalkeeper Mia King.

Smith then linked up well with Poppy Francis down the left wing, earning Norwich the first corner of the game.

The resulting set-piece floated about in the box after a header from Williams, the defender eventually getting a shot that was deflected by a green shirt and collected by King.

Moneyfields captain Ali Hall dragged a shot just wide of Mears' goal for the visitors.

A fantastic ball from Issy Moore reached Lauren Hailes, who turned and lost her opponent on the left, crossing into the box but only finding Moneyfields shirts.

Immediately down the other end on the break, Beth Burgess sent the ball goalward but Mears scooped up to prevent a shot on the end of the cross.

The final chance of the goalless half came through Densley, who found herself through on goal from 30 yards out and shot from just outside the area, her effort flying narrowly high.

City then went ahead 10 minutes into the second half after a foul was given when King brought down Cook in the box.

Symonds stepped up to take it and rolled her strike into the bottom corner to convert.

Ceri Flye slotted a perfect ball to Cook racing down the right wing from deep in City's half shortly after the goal, but the winger's cross was snatched out of the path of Snelling by Moneyfields' King.

A well-struck effort from Moneyfields substitute Tierney Scott went straight to the palms of Mears, followed shortly after by a flick-on from Shannon Albuery whose effort rolled across goal, narrowly missing the target.

The Division One South West side then found their equaliser through Brooke Garcia, who rifled a shot into the top corner to make it 1-1 with 10 minutes to play.

The game evened out in the dying minutes, both sides creating chances in the final third but neither were able to snatch the winning goal.

City start their 2025/26 FAWNL campaign next weekend against Actonians at The Nest in a 2pm kick-off on Sunday, August 17.

Get your season ticket

Norwich City: Mears; Francis (Bishop h-t), Riglar (Strauss 72), Strauss (Flye h-t), Williams; Medd-Gill (Daviss h-t), Moore (King h-t), Smith (Symonds h-t); Hailes (Cook h-t), Densley (Kennard h-t), Hall (h-t).

Goals: Symonds (56 pen)

Moneyfields: King; Howden, Tonks (Beard 85), Granger, Hall, Albuery, Burgess (Garcia 58), Venditto, Aldridge, Fox (Scott 36), Jeal

Goals: Garcia (79)

HT: 0-0

FT: 1-1

Venue: Avant Training Centre