Norwich City Ladies first team coach Scott Emmerson admits his side are braced for a busy 2017.

The Canaries play their last match of the year on Sunday (2pm) when they take on Enfield at Plantation Park having only played six league games so far this season.

Their lack of activity means Norwich currently sit third from bottom in the Women's South East Division One table and Emmerson admits his side are going to have to show a strong mentality in the new year to start climbing the division.

'The gap between us and the teams above us is psychologically challenging for the girls but I think that's when you need your senior players to help the younger ones,' he said. 'There's no need to panic – it's going to be a bit of a hard slog but we know we've got the quality to climb the table in the new year.'

Tomorrow's opponents, Enfield, sit just above Norwich and Emmerson admits it's important his side start to haul in some of their rivals.

'That's the challenge for us – we need to reel them (Enfield) in as much as we can. Our first game in the new year is also against Stevenage (who are second from bottom) and it's important that we try to put as big a gap as we can between us and them.'

Norwich have at least got an impressive performance to build upon after holding promotion-chasing AFC Wimbledon to a 1-1 draw last weekend. It came just seven days after City had been beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in the Women's FA Cup and Emmerson was delighted with his side's display.

'We changed our shape a bit from the week before and I think it caught them by surprise a bit,' he added.

'We were pushing really hard towards the end and could have got a winner.

'I think they will be the more disappointed side as they are the team pushing for promotion but we could have definitely come away with the win.'