Sunday 19th November

The football action this Sunday comes from The Walks, home of King’s Lynn Town FC, the 2nd Round of the Norfolk Women’s County Cup, with King’s Lynn Town Ladies taking on higher league opponents Norwich City Ladies.

 King’s Lynn Town Ladies getting the opportunity to play at The Walks again with all their home county cup ties played there. Football on a high in the town with all 3 King’s Lynn sides currently doing well in their respective leagues. The ladies side making the step up from county to regional league this season are doing fantastically well in the ERWFL Division One North on a great run of form, 4 points clear at the top of the table with just the one defeat so far in the league. A bye in the first round of the County Cup a tough draw and test in the 2nd round taking on Norwich City Ladies playing 2 leagues higher.

   Norwich City Ladies return to the County Cup after a 3 season absence the FAWPL South East Division One side previously dominating the County Cup, a leading force in women’s football in Norfolk for a long time. Battling at the wrong end of the table the County Cup a welcome distraction and a chance for Norwich to pursue silverware. The footballing map in Norfolk has changed a little in their absence from the County Cup, 3 potential challengers to their dominance emerging, all 3 plying their trade in the ERWFL, all ambitious, Acle United Ladies, Wymondham Town Ladies and King’s Lynn Town Ladies themselves all wanting to reach the FAWPL themselves.

 With the current County Cup holders, Thorpe United Ladies knocked out of the competition in the previous round by Wymondham Town Ladies, the County Cup is there for the taking.

The Walks the venue the large mainstand over looking a large pitch offering plenty of width. Seen plenty of action a little cut up, half the pitch shaded by the mainstand, a chilly but bright afternoon, no wind, great conditions for the match. The cafe open offering hot and cold drinks, with a barbecue outside that would tempt me at half-time. 

King’s Lynn Town Ladies starting XI – Bryony Russell-Smith, Vikttorija Burkauskaite, Jessica Evans, Shanice Burch, Albany Hodgson, Charlotte Griffith, Becky Russell (C), Shelley Woods, Tiffany Forshaw, Georgia Reardon & Jade Kelly. Subs – Elle Bocking, Olivia Baker & Michelle Stewart-Sheen.

Norwich City Ladies starting XI – Fiona Coombes, Millie Daviss, Summer Ward, Emily Moerkerk, Grace Parker (C), Sasha Diston, Paige Shorten, Aimee Durrant, Vivian Moyo, Natasha Snelling & Charlotte Broad. Subs – Eliza McDonald & Chelsea Garrett.

(roll on roll off substitutes)

It’s Norwich to get the match underway playing in their traditional yellow and green kit with King’s Lynn in their home colours, blue shirts with yellow sleeves, yellow shorts and blue socks. Norwich press into the King’s Lynn half, Vivian Moyo a summer signing for Norwich from Norfolk Division One Champion’s, Thorpe United Ladies winning her side a throw deep in the King’s Lynn half the ball worked in towards the top of the area cleared by Kin’g Lynn’s Shanice Burch. 

  The home side look to play the ball out from the back, Norwich push bodies up pressure the ball, Sasha Diston returning to Norwich after a spell in Suffolk with AFC Sudbury Ladies nips in to win the ball off Albany Hodgson plays the long diagonal pass out to the right with Aimee Durrant on the move looking to get in behind the home defence is fouled as she crosses the ball into the area a free kick awarded to Norwich outside the box, midfielder Paige Shorten on the set piece looks to curl the ball in towards goal puts her effort over the bar.

A good start from Norwich getting players forwards from midfield to support the attackers, Shorten winning the tackle plays the ball into Charlotte Broad ahead of her outside the area wraps her foot around the ball playing it out to the right with Durrant on the move again, just a little early this time the offside flag up against her. King’s Lynn play the ball into captain Becky Russell she lays it forwards for Shelley Woods up the left keeping the ball in play knocks it inside for Jade Kelly up front looking to get into the area left of goal, Norwich’s Emily Moerkerk getting back to slide in to tackle the attacker put the ball behind for the corner.

GOAL! From the resulting corner King’s Lynn take the lead, Russell to play the ball in, initially aimed at Tiffany Forshaw at the near post her attempted flick on is cleared coming straight back to Russell on the left one touch and fires the ball in hard across the face of goal the ball going it at the far post with players diving in, none get a touch the goal is Russell’s, King’s Lynn lead 1-0.

   The ball won back from the restart Woods is in behind for King’s Lynn taking the ball on into the box left side snatches her shot wide of the near post. Norwich go forwards the pass through the centre into Broad touched out to Moyo left side has support from Summer Ward behind her the left back firing the ball back into the area, Hodgson and Burch close Broad down the ball successfully defended.

  A competitive game both sides wanting to use the width of the pitch little time for anyone on the ball. Norwich with Moyo on the ball left side puts the pass inside to Natasha Snelling 20 yards on controls on the turn and strikes the ball towards goal, keeper Bryony Russell-Smith can’t get anything on it as it flies over her head, smashes against the crossbar dropping down into play inside the six yard box right of goal Durrant looks to hit it on the volley buries the ball into the side netting wide. 

  Norwich make the 1st change of the game, bring off Moyo, send on Chelsea Garrett. Norwich press the ball in midfield, Shorten stealing possession takes the ball on towards the area, will strike the ball from distance given half a chance and can get plenty of power behind the ball too, lining up to shoot top of the area Burch gets across in the nick of time to slide in and deny the chance.  

A volleyed clearance from King’s Lynn gives attacker Georgia Reardon a chance to run at the Norwich defence through the centre, Grace Parker, Norwich’s captain at centreback defends well against backtracking towards her area the ball cleared out to Russell on the right, King’s Lynn get plenty into the box as she goes to cross, the ball too close to goal, keeper Fiona Coombes with a solid take at her near post. 

Broad looks to get hold of the ball inside the King’s Lynn half taking it forwards jinks left then right to line up a strike from 25 yards out Burch onrushing closes her down the ball deflected out wide for the throw in, the cross fired into the centre of the six yard box, Russell-Smith with a confident claim being closed down by Snelling. Norwich having more of the ball, King’s Lynn organised at the back not letting anything in behind. Norwich make another change bringing off Millie Daviss at the back bringing on Eliza McDonald. 

No advantage in the middle after Shorten is clipped passing the ball on for Snelling through the middle. A good 35 yards out, Durrant to take, a good effort clipped over the King’s Lynn wall on target dipping late just not quite enough a foot over the bar. Diston plays the ball forwards for Garrett in chase in behind the King’s Lynn defence fro once, bearing down on the box, Russell-Smith out of her area to challenge the striker, just about does enough the ball deflected off her legs out to the left into the area Garrett after it and empty goal to aim at if she can reach it, Vikttorija Burkauskaite gets there 1st however for King’s Lynn the right back sliding in to put the ball behind for the corner.

   Played in from the left with pace into the six yard box King’s Lynn clear runs straight out for Shorten latching onto the shot 25 yards out the ball is driven in low on target too many legs to get through is deflected wide to safety. Shorten with another long range pop minutes later swerving in the air, Russell-Smith behind the ball spills it behind for the corner kick sent in near post King’s Lynn get it away up field. Broad with another powerful run on the ball through the middle, good defending from Hodgson staying on her shoulder and timing her tackle well.

Late into the 1st half King’s Lynn get players forwards the ball with Russell on the right a corner is won the ball played in low towards Forshaw at the near post is once again back to Russell swing the ball into towards the penalty area Parker rises highest to clear for Norwich. 

Half-time King’s Lynn Town Ladies 1-0 Norwich City Ladies

   An entertaining 1st half with King’s Lynn holding a narrow 1-0 lead over Norwich. The home side with a good 1st half performance to match their higher league opponents. Norwich with more of the ball haven’t been able to carve open the King’s Lynn defence and create many clear cut chances. King’s Lynn not having many themselves the ball hotly contested in the middle, will Norwich find a levelling goal 2nd half or can King’s Lynn build on their lead?

  No changes for either side at the start of the 2nd half Norwich out onto the pitch early. The temperature dropping it’s King’s Lynn to get the 2nd 45 underway. A quiet start to the 2nd half Norwich breaking up a King’s Lynn attack go forwards Durrant on the right plays the pass inside to Garrett helps it infield to Broad, Shorten goes beyond her the ball rolled into her path she tries to dink the ball up over the defence for Snelling, instead runs safely through to Russell-Smith. Space for Snelling drifting out to the left side the ball played forwards stands up in the turf preventing her getting on into the box, giving Burkauskaite time to get back on her make the tackle.

Forshaw’s turn to find some room out wide right for King’s Lynn the ball played on by Charlotte Griffith taking it forwards, Forshaw rides the challenge as Diston comes sliding in, keeping her feet the striker pulls the trigger from 20 yards out pulls the ball wide across the face of goal. A counter attack from King’s Lynn from a Norwich throw level with their box the ball sent long for Kelly in space left running towards the box 40 yards out, goalkeeper, Coombes has to come a long way from the ball Kelly goes to lob her, the ball over her bounces harmlessly wide of her goal. 

The game getting a little stretched Norwich risking a high line at the back as they look to press the ball higher up the pitch almost presents King’s Lynn with an attacking opportunity the ball won off a deflection in the middle Kelly after it, Ward coming round on the cover making a fantastic tackle to get the ball back to Coombes. Norwich with possession wide right Garrett wins the throw the resulting ball lifted high into the area, drops to Broad lays it on to Garrett, gets her foot over the ball smashes the bouncing ball back in towards goal is taken by Russell-Smith at her near post. 

King’s Lynn make their 1st change of the match bringing on Olivia Baker for Reardon, the switch pushing Forshaw into a more advanced role. A free-kick for King’s Lynn a good way out from goal as Russell is fouled. Woods on the ball takes aim for goal the ball on target, Coombes behind it all the way catches on the bounce. A knock to the ankle for Broad the Norwich attacker needing to come off Moyo coming back on. 

Shorten on the ball rolls in forwards for Snelling out to Garrett right side knocks the ball forwards looking to attack the box, her tough a little heavy allows Evans to get across her and clear the ball for a throw in. Norwich keep the ball inside the King’s Lynn half comes into Ward on the left the pass forwards for Durrant the winger cutting inside charging for the box the ball knocked forwards deflected off the King’s Lynn defence back to Durrant looks to curl a shot in towards goal, does so only succeeds in picking out Russell-Smith the keeper behind the shot.

A throw on the left for Norwich the pass sees Ward breaking in behind the King’s Lynn defence her cross flashed across the six yard box cleared back out to Snelling some 30 yards out strikes the ball sweetly arrowing towards the top corner, Russell-Smith with an excellent save the ball tipped over the bar, corner conceded played in for Moyo at the near post six yards out can’t turn and get a shot away the King’s Lynn defence on her to clear the ball. Norwich with a sustained spell of pressure, King’s Lynn break the ball long for Forshaw right into the box looks to take on the shot plays the ball straight into Coombes’ gloves at her near post. 

Durrant’s runs out wide and through the middle are posing a threat for Norwich this time brought down in the middle 35 yards out Durrant on the free kick herself looks to go for goal her strike landing on the roof of the net. Soon after another run from Durrant cutting in from the left sees her brought crashing down by Russell the King’s Lynn captain shown the yellow card. NB (*Russell given final warning by referee not cautioned). A dangerous position 20 yards out from goal Durrant takes sending the ball angling towards the far post Hodgson gets her head on the ball sending it on for the corner which is successfully defended at the near post.

   GOAL! 20 minutes left to play and King’s Lynn double their advantage. Forshaw further forwards now the scorer as she is played in from the left into the box, Coombes comes rushing in to dive at her feet the ball squirming through to the left cries for a penalty but Forshaw riding the challenge stays on her feet retrieves the ball on the byline and keeping her composure lifts the ball in towards goal to make it 2-0.

Norwich make a change Broad recovering from her knock returning for Snelling rejoins the attack. Shorten with a brilliant long range pass from halfway picks out Ward on the overlap left side into the corner, Kelly back on her tackles to put the ball behind for the corner. 

Red card! Pressing for a goal Norwich committing players forwards leave space at the back Forshaw ready to go when King’s Lynn break up play, Burch with the tackle the ball into the centre helped on to Forshaw right side a yard on Parker bearing down on the area, the defender dives in gets the ball but goes through Forshaw to do so bringing her down, the last defender Moerkerk might have gotten round on the cover but the referee doesn’t think so, Parker is sent off. Russell to take the resulting free kick her effort into the area deflected wide of goal. 

15 minutes left King’s Lynn make another change, player manager Michelle Stewart-Sheen coming on for Evans at left back. King’s Lynn working hard as a team to defend giving very little away. Garrett on for Shorten running on ahead of her shoots from 20 yards out a fine save from Russell-Smith low to her right. Russell-Smith is then hurt in an accidentally collision coming out to the edge of her area to claim the ball on her knees, Broad trying to throw herself over the keeper catching her on the side of her face with her knee. Both need a few moments but are okay to continue. Durrant on the right driving with the ball into the box shoots, Russell-Smith close in low to her right pushes the ball behind for the corner kick.

GOAL! Norwich have players up from the corner the ball cleared by King’s Lynn is with Durrant right side the shot is fired in with venom across goal skims off the crossbar falling back into play at the far post inside the six yard box, Moyo reacts smartly stabbing the ball over the line before being closed down 2-1. Game on with 5 minutes of normal play left.

A frantic end to the game the ball up either end Kelly placing a wild shot wide across the Norwich area. Broad breaking through the middle for Norwich her 1st touch too heavy allowing Burch the opportunity to get in front of her shield the ball back to Russell-Smith. Snelling on for Daviss returns to the action late on for Norwich as they search for an equaliser. A reckless sliding tackle from Hodgson on Broad sees the defender yellow carded. The free-kick in a dangerous position 30 yards out Shorten to go for goal a tame effort bounces through to the keeper. 

 Into stoppage time Broad can’t continue, Daviss back on as the visitors press on. King’s Lynn stand firm keeping a good shape Griffith breaking up play looking to get Woods away left side. Coombes gathers sends the ball long knocked on now way through the centre of the King’s Lynn defence, Russell bringing it forwards. The final whistle blows and King’s Lynn celebrate a memorable win.

Full time King’s Lynn Town Ladies 2-1 Norwich City Ladies

   2-1 to King’s Lynn Town Ladies at The Walks to go through to the quarter finals of the Norfolk Women’s County Cup. A good performance from start to finish working hard as a team to give little away, press the ball in the middle and time their attacks. Norwich with more of the ball had opportunities to score but found it difficult to find any openings in behind their opponents defence. Was an entertaining game another great showcase for women’s football in Norfolk.

Women’s Football East – Player of the Match

   A few contenders for today’s Women’s Football East – Player of the Match, goalkeeper Bryony Russell-Smith with some excellent saves. Shanice Burch at the back and Tiffany Forshaw up top too, but in the end it was a quality performance from King’s Lynn captain Becky Russell from the 1st minute to the last and she is today’s Player of the Match.

Another good game at The Walks, my thanks to both sides for their help again today and best of luck to King’s Lynn Town Ladies in the next round of the County Cup.