Match Report - Norwich City LFC v Ipswich Town LFC South East Combination

    Last night I attended my 1st women's East Anglian derby match between Norwich City LFC and Ipswich Town LFC in the South East Combination league. A match that had been postponed during the awful run of wet weather that affected the whole of the footballing calendar at the start of 2014. A match I was very much looking forwards too even if I had been made to wait. At Plantation Park a 7:45 kick-off it was getting decidely chilly by the time I arrived at the ground.
  
     Norwich City LFC as I'd highlighted in an earlier post are now through postponements playing catch up with the teams around them in terms of fixtures this meant that with a good number of games in hand on the leading pair of C&K Basildon and QPR LFC that they were still in the hunt for the title. Had beaten Enfield Town LFC away at the weekend 4-1 going into the match. Ipswich Town LFC laying in the bottom half of the South East Combination table had hosted the then leaders QPR LFC and had fought back from going  2-0 down to steal a point to make it 2-2, so both teams had a confidence boosting result going into the match.

    It was Norwich to kick-off in their yellow and green kit against Ipswich kitted out in white shirts and socks with black shorts. A local derby both teams would be up for the match, the opening minutes were frantic the ball spending little time on the deck. Norwich started the brighter looking to attack early and with pace with all their attacking players running at Ipswich's defense giving the visitors little time to settle. Just ten minutes had passed when the ball was given away through a loose clearance, Norwich's Paige Shorten latching onto the ball from the left and running into the box lifted it over the advancing keeper and into the net 1-0.

    Ipswich had little time to settle the game down and try to build a counter attack as Norwich were to quickly double their lead. The ball swung into the penalty box early no Ipswich defender could get her head to it, no10 Natasha Snelling brings it down and shoots quickly sending the ball under the diving keeper to make it 2-0. Ipswich were reeling battling hard to win the ball back any attack was started deep inside their own half there 1st chance coming from one such tussle as full back Roxanne Small won the ball and played it through to wide player Amy Cook on the left. Winning a throw high up the pitch Cook then ran with the ball into the box but was closed down by the keeper and the ball went behind for a corner.

    A Norwich free kick from 35 yards out was dragged wide by taker Paige Shorten at one end, at the other Amy Cook beats the offside trap but her attempt is closed down. Norwich were to beat the offside trap too Natasha Snelling running into the left channel she sent in a high cross towards the far post to her team mate Chelsea Garratt but she can only nudge the ball wide of the goal. The pressure was all coming from the home side now, Natasha Snelling with a 20 yards strike punched wide for a corner the resulting delivery cleared off the line the rebound blazed over the bar.

    Half time Norwich lead 2-0

     Ipswich needed to close the ball down higher up the pitch and that was their aim at the start of the 2nd half captain Danielle Bitten in midfield trying her best to influence the play and get her team back into the match. Norwich though were working hard too often doubling up on an opponent then laying the ball off and looking to turn and break quickly with willing runners in midfield Natasha Snelling was through on goal having beaten the keeper could only find the post as Ipswich cleared the danger.

    Ipswich were weathering a storm when it became a mountain to climb as they had a player sent off for a tackle from behind a 2nd yellow and the visitors were down to 10. Norwich midfeilder Ellie Smith had made several good forward runs now with a player advantage Norwich were really in control of the game, the referee awarded a penalty I think for a push, no14 Rosi Webb took the spot kick sending it high to the keepers left to make it 3-0.

    Ipswich chances were few and far between there best outlets were their wide players, and both Danielle Bitten and striker Nadine Basson who'd dropped to a deeper role after the sending off were looking for that pass. When ever Amy Cook had the ball at her feet she looked to drive forwards options though were limited the ball often cleared for a corner which Norwich were able to defend.

     Eventually Ellie Smith's attacking runs brought her the reward of a goal winning the ball out on the left the midfielder ran in on goal wasn't chased down and slotted the ball into the back of the net to double the 1st half scoreline 4-0. Natasha Snelling and captain Kate Parsons had efforts saved late on for the home side. The score however was to finish 4-0 and round off what was a dominant display from Norwich, ruthless at times. Ipswich in turn will be bitterly disappointed never really got going on the night.

South East Combination
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	C&K Basildon LFC	18	13	3	2	52	18	34	42
2	QPR LFC	17	12	4	1	52	11	41	40
3	Norwich City LFC	14	10	0	4	41	24	17	30

    This result moves Norwich up into 3rd place in the South East Combination table behind leaders C&K Basildon and 2nd placed QPR LFC. 12pts back on the leaders they have some 4 games in hand and 3 on QPR LFC who they still have to play at home. Still with a chance I think they will need maximum points from their remaining matches to hunt the title down either way the season end will be thrilling to watch.