Having attended the final back in 2012 and other cup finals in the county over the past few years knew Norfolk FA did a very good job on a final's day. Produce a quality match programme and were happy to provide me with a team sheet. (pictured below)
Norwich City Ladies are currently in 3rd place in the South East Combination league and had looked in impressive form in their midweek victory over rivals Ipswich Town Ladies. Thorpe United Ladies are the current leaders of Norfolk Division One. Two regional leagues separate them so Norwich were very much the favourites going into the final. Thorpe the underdogs knew they would have to work hard to get a result, and in any cup match let alone the final you never know.
Having a team sheet with numbers was great as I could put a name to a shirt which makes writing a report a lot easier let me tell you. It was Thorpe United Ladies in their pink shirts and socks and black shorts that got the match underway. Their plan at the start to not let their opponents settle on the ball and look to steal possession that being so Norwich were happy to try out any long range opportunity that fell their way midfielder Paige Shorten with the 1st effort a drive that swept wide of the upright.
With two or three players doubling up to win the ball Thorpe had little option to get it up the pitch with captain Rebekah Lake up top on her own much of the time. Norwich pushing their opponents back had numbers forwards defender Grace Parker intercepted a loose clearance and drove forwards with the ball to the right hand corner of the penalty box crossed the ball to the far post to team mate Anna Larkins her effort stabbed straight at Thorpe keeper Kirstie Andrews who parried it down and collected. Another chance a half volley from Norwich striker Natasha Snelling outside the box was caught by Andrews.
Thorpe were caught out soon after as Grace Parker was brought down outside the box on the right, it was taken quickly by Norwich's Paige Shorten swept up and into the net to make it 1-0. The goal settled Norwich down they were looking to pass the ball across the pitch make it a big as possible meaning the Thorpe players having to work hard to close runners down and win back possesion. To that end Thorpe were getting results full back Shannon Miles and midfielder Sophie Jermy linking up well on the left and Rebekah Lake prepared to run into the right channel and look to cross the ball, clear chances on goal though were hard to come by.
The competition has roll on roll off substitutions and both management teams were taking advantage of this giving everyone an opportunity. Norwich's Natasha Snelling had an opportunity to double her teams lead from a corner but could only slice the ball wide. Thorpe's best chance of the half came from a poor defensive clearance the ball hitting Rebekah Lake however the deflected effort swerved away from goal. Another long range effort from Norwich was easily collected by Kirstie Andrews whose positioning had been good throughout the 1st 45 mins and along with her teammates had worked very hard to keep the scoreline to just a single goal.
Half time Norwich City Ladies led 1-0.
Despite being a goal down Thorpe had put in a lot of effort and were still very much in the final. The question would be would their fitness levels hold up for another 45 minutes against their higher league placed opposition? The half couldn't have started any better for Thorpe as midfielder Sophie Jermy looking to play closer to striker Rebekah Lake pounced on a loose clearance from Norwich keeper Nina Scammel ran with the ball out on the left and lifted the ball over Scammel as she tried to save her shot finding the net and giving Thorpe an equaliser 1-1.
Lifted Thorpe were winning the ball and looking a threat Becky Russell in the centre of midfield getting on the ball and able to pick out a team mate. Norwich are a very good counter attacking team and have willing runners who will track back to win the ball won a corner taken quickly and driven in low towards the six yard box striker Natasha Snelling slides in to catch the ball before the diving Kirstie Andrews can collect and makes it 2-1.
Andrews was forced into a smart saving diving to her left minutes later from a Paige Shorten half volley on the edge of the D. Norwich captain Kate Parson's was booked for commiting a foul 40 yards out the ball delivered into the penalty box got a glancing header from Becky Russell to knock it down Rebekah Lake almost steals onto it but Scammel is sharper and gathers it in. Thorpe's Sophie Jermy beats the offside trap on the left makes a strong run into the box from the left shoots to the near post Scammel is well placed to save.
Norwich's Anna Larkins wins possession from the Thorpe midfield plays to Piage Shorten and continuing her run her team mate plays her in as she enters the box and Larkins slots the ball past Kirstie Andrews to make the scoreline 3-1. The game was getting stretched now Norwich players were finding space on the ball were looking to go wide as they were having little success trying to beat Thorpe central defender Laura Wiseman. Pulling wide Natasha Snelling finds space for a shot her effort striking the Thorpe cross bar.
Thorpe were to get caught out for the fourth goal as Norwich this time took a short corner played to Natasha Snelling who shot from the left of the penalty box her effort going across Andrews and into the net to bring up a 4-1 scoreline. Thorpe kept going working hard to try and create something had a half chance from a free kick that keeper Fiona Coombes having replaced Scammel missed she was saved however by a covering defender clearing the ball off the line.
Tired legs all over the pitch now Norwich's Natasha Snelling was to complete her hat trick with the cheekiest of strikes a long floating crossed delivered in from the right running onto it Snelling met it with the outside of her boot to send it back across Andrews and into the net 5-1. One late chance for Thorpe to try and get another goal captain Rebekah Lake had a run at goal being closed down by two defenders Coombes is rushing out the lob is the only option cannot however get enough lift to beat Norwich's keeper. One last corner for Thorpe is cleared and the referee blows for full time and Norwich 5-1 winners retain the Norfolk Women's County Cup.
Congratulations to Norwich on their cup success had to work hard for their victory. Well done to, to Natasha Snelling on her hat-trick. Thorpe gave a great account of themselves a battling display a good cup final to watch.
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