Norwich City Ladies 1 AFC Wimbledon Ladies 2: City so close to taking points off leaders
Norwich City Ladies' Laura Thacker's header beats the Wimbledon keeper only to see her effort hit the crossbar. Picture: Brian Coombes - Credit: Archant
Norwich City Ladies came within inches of holding South East Division One champions elect Wimbledon at Plantation Park as they went down to a 2-1 defeat.
Norwich keeper, Eilish Brogan, up for a corner in the last moments of the game, goes for goal against AFC Wimbledon. Picture: Brian Coombes - Credit: Archant
From the start, Norwich sent a clear message to Wimbledon by taking the game to the league leaders.
Norwich enjoyed significant possession and mounted a number of attacks on the visitors' goal. The hosts were then forced into an early substitution as Chelsea Garrett came on for the injured Charlotte Broad.
Soon after Brydie Siryj went close, beating Holly Wright the Wimbledon keeper one on one, only to be thwarted by a last ditch clearance by the arriving full back.
However, Wimbledon struck first, when Georgia Heasman's free kick beat Eilish Brogan's outstretched hand, finding the net.
Norwich City Ladies' Brydie Siryj goes close against Wimbledon. Picture: Brian Coombes - Credit: Archant
Soon after on 41 minutes Wimbledon doubled their advantage from a free kick, as Caroline Bisson made it 2-0.
Norwich stepped up a gear in the second half and, with just five minutes played, were rewarded by a stunning strike by Chelsea Garrett from an acute angle.
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After halving the deficit Norwich were buoyant and mounted wave after wave of attacks on the Wimbledon goal.
With time running out and everything to play for Norwich threw all they could into attack, even Norwich keeper Brogan came up for a corner but was unable to turn a ball into the net.
Action from Norwich City Ladies' 2-1 defeat against AFC Wimbledon Ladies. Picture: Brian Coombes - Credit: Archant
With just minutes left to play Laura Thacker's header beat the Wimbledon keeper but agonisingly struck the bar and Wimbledon held on for all three points.
With no points to show from this hard fought contest, Norwich were disappointed but encouraged and now must switch their attention to this weekend's home fixture against Luton Town Ladies.
Norwich: Brogan, Daviss, Love, Diston, Thacker, Moerkerk, Durrant, Snelling (McDonald 65), Broad (Garrett 23), Drake, Siryj (Stanley 75). Subs not used: Parker, Ward.
AFC Wimbledon: Wright, Wylie, Measures, Trimnell, Billingham, Sargent, Searle, McLaren-Johnson, Bisson, Whelan (Stanley 60), Heasman (Banfield 70). Subs not used: Salgado
Referee: Paul Gibson
Attendance: 56
