Formerly known as the South East Combination league it has be revamped over the close season to become known as the FA Women's Premier League (FAWPL) South East Division One. Retaining the geographical nature of the old Combination set up of four regions, North, Midlands, South West & South East. The prize for winning the league a place in the FAWPL South.
10 of the 11 FAWPL South East Division One teams were in action today the fixtures as follows:
C&K Basildon v Bedford Ladies
Cambridge WFC v Enfield Town Ladies
Denham United Ladies v Crystal Palace Ladies
Milton Keynes Dons LFC v Luton Town Ladies
Norwich City Ladies v Ipswich Town Ladies
The last fixture was my game of the day a great season opener and also the 2nd East Anglian derby of the weekend the men having played on Saturday, but this is a women's football blog so we're only interested with today's action.
A simple trek up east along the A47, I'd forgotten about the roadworks going on near to Norwich City Ladies home venue Plantation Park still made it just in time for kick off. Was a warm sunny afternoon, the pitch looked a little dry otherwise in good shape.
Norwich City Ladies match day squad - Fiona Coombes, Bryony Radley, Bridie Hipperson, Charlotte Edwards, Sue-Lyn King, Emily Lewin (C), Emily Hodson, Jordan Arnoup, Chelsea Garrett, Natasha Snelling, Gemma Farman, Ellen Fewkes-Woodrow, Jenny Harrison, Megan Lewis & Jade Nicholson.
Ipswich Town Ladies match day squad - Chloe Wood, Coral Young, Lucy Du Plooy, Aimee Harrison, Dani Bitten (C), Kirby King, Roxanne Small, Amanda Crump, Molly Hall, Ellie Froud, Jasmine Cox & Sasha Dixon.
It's Norwich in their yellow and green kit to kick off the game, with Ipswich lined up in their blue shirts and socks with white shorts. The visitors have the 1st effort at goal a long range pop that is sent wide.
Norwich though are soon on the counter striker Natasha Snelling with the ball at her feet finds space down the left puts in an early ball with the outside of her boot, flies across the six yard box out to the other side of the box, trying to clear the ball Ipswich give away an early penalty. It's Jordan Arnoup with the ball on the spot, sends the ball to the right of the diving Chloe Wood in the Ipswich goal 1-0.
Ipswich captain Dani Bitten heads the ball wide of Norwich's goal from a set piece delivered in from the left.
Winning the ball back in the middle Norwich get another attack going a long pass out to the right for Snelling to run onto breaking towards the box the striker gets a shot away despite being under challenge slots the ball past Wood to give the home side a 2-0 early on.
Ipswich try their luck from long range 1st through a Bitten strike 20 yards out that Norwich goalkeeper Fiona Coombes sees past the post, then Ipswich's Amanda Crump pulls her shot wide of goal.
Ipswich are looking to press Norwich in their own half with Bitten more often than not winning the ball, finding the pass to unlock Norwich's defence isn't so easy. Roxanne Small pushing up looks the most likely but Sue-Lyn King marks her well to win back the ball.
Norwich captain Emily Lewin has a chance from a poor kick out from Wood in the Ipswich ball intercepting the ball, let's fly from 25 yards, hits the cross bar. Norwich are attacking now 1st Snelling blasts over then Chelsea Garrett steals in from the left has a shot from just inside the box the shot goes wide across the goal.
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| Norwich's Chelsea Garrett on the attack |
Ipswich striker Molly Hall has a shot from 20 yards out lacks the pace to beat Coombes as she drops down to make the save.
It's Wood's turn to make the save as Norwich break Snelling with the ball at her feet again takes aim from outside the box, can't get it past the keeper. Norwich are enjoying the bulk of the attacks, Snelling out on the flank plays a good ball into the box looking for Arnoup, Wood is quickly off her line to clear the ball.
Garrett with another surging run down the right puts in a fierce cross, angling towards the far post Wood can't get to it, and Snelling is their sliding in to turn the ball into the back of the net 3-0.
Emily Lewin with the last chance of the half from a break coming in from the left shoots early putting the ball onto the roof of the net.
Half-time Norwich City Ladies 3-0 Ipswich Town Ladies
3-0 down at half time Ipswich are looking up against it 2nd half as they kick off. Is a quiet opening to the half, play is stopped though as Sue-Lyn King and Roxanne Small collide the defender sliding in on a lose ball accidentally catches the Ipswich player, a free kick is given there is a lengthy break whilst Small receives treatment, can't carry on and is helped off the pitch, looked serious but speaking to Ipswich's manager Ralph Pruden after the game, he says she will be alright. Her replacement is Sasha Diston.
It is a lengthy break, seems to half caught Norwich on the hop as play resumes the ball is played out wide left to the unmarked Amanda Crump coming inside the the corner of the box, she shoots putting the ball over Coombes and into the net to pull a goal back for the visitors 3-1.
Ipswich win a corner soon after taken short the ball is played out to Crump her shot is blocked before Norwich win a free kick against her. Ipswich are enjoying a spell of pressure around the Norwich box.
The ball is played in by Crump from wide left Coombes can't collect as a defender looks to have hooked it off the line... the referee though awards the goal and Crump has her 2nd as Ispwich pull it back to 3-2.
It's all Ipswich a corner from the right low across the six yard box causes havoc, players scrambling to get it clear, it is put in at the far post Ipswich's Jasmine Cox claiming the goal 3-3 and game on a terrific come back from the visitors.
Norwich need to regroup as Gemma Farman comes. Norwich have the ball with Arnoup central she power her way through Ipswich's defenders is pushed wide inside the box, her shot is screwed wide of goal.Garrett twists and turns with the ball out on the wing has a go from 25 yards the effort wide of the mark.
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| Norwich's Jordan Arnoup tussles with Ipswich's Dani Bitten for the ball |
Coombes saves from an Ipswich free kick taken central to her goal, Norwich break Emily Hodson with the ball tries to hold it up waiting for support to arrive but is crowded off the ball.
Norwich come back into the game it's Snelling, she runs with the ball into the box from the left lobs the ball over the on rushing Wood, the ball looping over the keeper comes down off the bar into the middle, Snelling though is alert and following up plays the loose ball into the net to restore Norwich's lead 4-3. Snelling has a hat-trick.
Coombes is hurt then clearing the ball at her near post, needs treatment as Megan Lewis comes on for Chelsea Garrett. Coombes can't carry on and is replaced by Jade Nicholson in goal.
Snelling is onto a good pass played through the middle peels off to the left running in on goal shoots Wood blocks but again Snelling is onto the loose ball and follows up to score her 4th and Norwich's 5th 5-3.
Snelling is forced to come off shortly after, picking up a knock she can't run off Norwich having used all their subs have to carry on with 10. Jade Nicholson is called into action making a great save from Sasha Distin as she bursts into the box and tries to shoot across the keeper, puts it out for a corner.
A good run from Ellen Fewkes-Woodrow is brought to an end as she is sandwiched between two Ipswich defenders a free kick is awarded 20 yards from goal, the set piece is played onto the roof of the net.
Norwich are keeping the ball well despite being a player down have a break through Fewkes-Woodrow, Wood comes out of her goal to close her down makes a good save at her feet.
Full-time Norwich City Ladies 5-3 Ipswich Town Ladies
A thrilling game 8 goals scored, Norwich were the better side 1st half got the 3 goal lead. Fantastic fight back from Ipswich to pull the scores level, before Norwich regrouped and went on to score twice more and claim the 3pts.
In the other 4 opening day FAWPL South East Division One fixtures the results were:
C&K Basildon 3-2 Bedford Ladies
Cambridge WFC 0-2 Enfield Town Ladies
Denham United Ladies 0-2 Crystal Palace Ladies
Milton Keynes Dons LFC 1-1 Luton Town Ladies
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