Norfolk Women’s League: No answer to wonder strike from Phoenix
Only eight matches took place in the Norfolk Women's League due to the weather conditions.
In the Premier Division Norwich City 2nds opened a three point gap on their nearest rivals with a 3-0 home win over Lowestoft Railway on a sand pitch camoflaged as a skating rink.
They quickly went ahead with a fantastic far post strike by Annabelle Phoenix but the extent of the cold was demonstrated when even the ball gave up the ghost – splitting in two.
A rousing team talk by captain Lauren Lawrie inspired City to start the second half with renewed passion. But not until the final 15 minutes did they use their width to good advantage.
First a drive down the left and into centre generated a penalty corner from which Phoenix neatly slipped left to Sarah Middleton, who fired low into the net. Amber Sayers completed the scoring.
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Dereham 3rds missed a chance of going second in the Premier Division, level on points with second-placed Harleston Magpies 3rds, when they lost 1-0 at home to Evergreens.
Evergreens had taken just eight points from 11 matches before the weekend, but this was their best performance of the season.
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The only goal came in the first half when Kathryn Gordon's ferocious strike form the edge of the D deflected off a defender's stick, looped over the keeper and into the back of the net.
Evergreens then picked up some injuries, the worst of which was Abi White being struck in the face by the ball, but she bravely battle through to half-time, when she could get some treatment.
In the second half keeper Amie Hutchison made a number of good saves while Chantelle Baker received a green card and Katy Howell was shown a yellow for what was deemed to be a dangerous tackle, resulting in an injured Dereham player.
Beccles could field only nine players at Thetford, where they lost 1-0 in a game which was a fine advertisment for the game.
The only goal came late in the game when a free hit from Sharon Brimson flew high off Sophie Wheeler's stick towards the top left side of the goal.
The goalkeeper saved but the ball landed dead in front of Kathy Hammond, who slipped it into goal.
In Division One, Broadland 2nds moved up to second by winning 2-0 at Dereham 4ths
The opening goal came in the last minute of the first half when Broadland's Nikki Baker ran onto a glorious through ball, drew the keeper and scored.
Broadland dominated the second half and sealed victory with less than a minute remaining as Holley Becker chipped in her first goal for the team this season.
The other games in the division saw Yarmouth 2nds beat Harleston 5ths 1-0 while North Walsham 2nds beat Sprowston 2nds 2-1
The only game in Division Two saw Norwich City 4ths draw 2-2 with Herlings.
