U’s winning streak comes to an end with defeat against Norwich in the last group stage game of the league cup.
The U’s were full of confidence going into Sundays matchup with Norwich City, but it was the opposition that secured their place in the league cup thanks to a first half strike from Ceri Flye.
Sean Greygoose made a number of changes to his side that beat Chesham United 3-1 just a week prior as Lauren Webb, Lauren Rouse, Sammy Edgar and Mia Richards came into the side.
It was a positive start for the U’s, forcing a succession of corners, but the first big chance of the game fell to Mollie Coupar in the 6th minute.
Strike partner Jade Bell managed to get in behind the Norwich back line and drove the ball low across the face of the opposition goal, it evaded the Norwich stopper but unfortunately the onrushing Coupar couldn’t get her foot to the ball on the slide.
It was then Norwich that threatened to break the stalemate as a corner from the left was well met in the middle of the U’s box but headed just over the bar.
However, just two minutes later in the 13th minute, Norwich would get the opener.
The ball was intercepted on the edge of the box by Norwich forward Booty who teed up Flye to fire low into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of Lauren Webb, 1-0.
Almost an immediate response from the U’s followed as Coupar once again evaded her defender and found herself one on one with the Norwich keeper; however, the stopper was quick off her line and Coupar’s shot was well blocked to preserve our opponents lead.
Norwich continued to threaten, and Webb had to be in top form to keep the score at 1-0.
In the 23rd minute Webb was quick off her line to smother the onrushing Norwich attacker, making a big block.
The U’s continued to push for an equaliser but the best efforts came from range and didn’t threaten to trouble the Norwich stopper, it remained 1-0 at half-time.
A half-time team talk for Sean Greygoose’s sparked new life into the U’s attack which saw a revitalised second half.
In the 61st minute the U’s came an inch away from equalising.
Shannon Shaw cut inside her marker on the edge of the box and sent a curling effort towards the top corner of the Norwich net, however the Norwich stopper produced a superb fingertip effort to push it onto the bar. The rebound fell the way of Jade Bell who unfortunately couldn’t get her effort on target.
Norwich weren’t done however and yet again Lauren Webb had to be called into action just one minute later.
A well worked move by the Canaries as they found themselves in on goal, however Webb did well to stick out her right boot to deny Norwich a second.
Stojko-Down came on to replace Shannon Shaw as the U’s continued to press for an equaliser and in the 67th minute another big chance fell our way.
Bell found her striker partner Coupar in space 12 yards out, her powerful effort however was well parried by the Norwich stopper to preserve their lead.
The U’s were not to be deterred though and in the 71st minute an incredible Mia Richards effort somehow didn’t go in.
A long throw from Lauren Tomlinson fell to the midfielder on the edge of the box, her powerful effort hit both posts of the Norwich goal before falling into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Sean threw on more reinforcements in the last 10 minutes as Becca Stephenson and Lauren Cullum replaced Sammy Edgar and Tally Miles.
The best chance then came from Mia Richards again as a corner was met by the midfielder, her header though was cleared off the line by a backtracking Norwich defender.
Unfortunately for the U’s, no more chances would follow, and the game ended in a 1-0 defeat to send the U’s out of the cup.
Next up for the women is a trip to Atletico London in the first game of our Adobe FA Cup journey.
Tickets are available now for the first of our two Cledara Abbey Stadium games as we host QPR on October 12th, tickets can be purchased here.
Cambridge United: Webb, Miles (Cullum, 87’), Tomlinson, Rouse, Jackson, Richards, Coupar, Bell, Shaw (Stojko-Down, 63’), Edgar (Stephenson, 74’), Wood
Subs Not Used: Shults, Cheal-Ferris, Jarvis, Hjaltun-Rayner
Goalscorers: N/A
Bookings: Rouse (81’)
Norwich City: Mears, Bishop, Flye, Williams, Hall (Wilson, 70’), Densley (Cook, 87’), Hailes (Symonds, 75’), Moore (Snelling, 70’), Francis (Kennard, 90’), Strauss, Booty
Subs Not Used: Quantrill, Daviss
Goalscorers: Ceri Flye (13’)
Attendance: 223
