Canaries caged in final game of season
Ashford Town Women – 1
A Kinnane 10’
Norwich City – 0
5th May 2024
Ashford Town Women completed their Women’s National League Division One South-East campaign with victory over Norwich City, an end-to-end encounter settled very early on when both home centre halves combined to capitalise from a set piece routine.
The Norfolk outfit already confirmed as runners up to champions AFC Wimbledon were looking to end their season as the only unbeaten side in the division, despite creating numerous opportunities the orange & black backline stood firm to condemn City to their first loss of the campaign.
A warm Sunday afternoon enticed a good crowd to the Robert Parker Stadium, after Ashford broke the deadlock opportunities galore went begging at both ends of the pitch, Norwich custodian Sarah Quantrill saved a late Alissa Down penalty but all in vain as the final whistle sounded soon after.
Half chances in the opening stages were all off target but the Middlesex outfit broke the deadlock when a Down corner was curled into the back post, where climbing highest amongst others, Anya Kinnane thumped her header home.
Constant interruptions with fouls needing treatment then slowed the tempo, the team in yellow and green were almost punished again just before the break as the lively Ashley Cheatley launched a solo attack, but her hesitancy to shoot allowed a covering defender to slide in and clear.
Norwich made a double sub after the interval in a bid to bolster their efforts, their first real chance of the half saw Natasha Snelling connecting in mid-air only to volley straight at the hosts keeper Emma Vigolo, however she then lay injured for her troubles.
At the opposite end Cheatley held off a couple of challenges on the byline to fizz the ball across the face of goal but no orange shirts were anywhere near close enough to convert, moments later Quantrill had to dive to her left to deny Town their second of the afternoon.
As time ticked down City upped the pressure but could not find a way through, a delivery into Ellie Smith saw her head straight at Vigolo summing up their afternoon; at the other end Cheatley was doing her best to ease the pressure with two efforts being charged down.
In added on time another ball upfield for the Ashford striker to chase ended with a nudge in the back knocking her to the floor, the official immediately pointing to the spot, her skipper thwarted by a great save with a defender quickest to react and hook to safety.
There was still time for another Town free kick on the edge of the arc, Down again taking responsibility and again thwarted by Quantrill diving away to her right to deny. F/T: 1-0
Competition : FA Women’s National League South-East Division
Venue: Robert Parker Stadium
Kick-Off: 2:00pm
Surface: Grass
Programme: £2
Attendance: 132
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For final FA Women’s National Football League Division One South-East table please: click here
