sunday, september 1, 2024
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Welcome back, Steven.
A tremendous crowd and
it was brilliant to hear our
passionate fans in full voice.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Nest for today’s league fixture against London Seaward. This afternoon is the third home fixture in seven days for our City side.
Despite the result on Thursday evening, it was a performance to be extremely proud of. With the starting 11 average age at 22 and over 60% in the squad having progressed through our player pathway, demonstrating our commitment to our homegrown talent. Ipswich are a team that operate in the league above with a team of full-time professional players and for large parts of the game were frustrated with our defensive tactics that Andy Cook and his technical staff team had prepared our players with, certainly lots of positives to take.
We welcomed 4,751 supporters to Carrow Road on Thursday night; a tremendous crowd and it was brilliant to hear our passionate fans in full voice. We will have a second fixture at Carrow
Road at a later point in the season, be sure to stay posted on our official club channels for updates regarding this.
London Seaward will be a tough opposition this afternoon, but we hope to have a positive result and continue to build on our strong start to the season.
Enjoy this afternoon’s game.
OTBC.
Andy Cook
We’ve just got to make sure we’re ready now for Sunday
Head coach Andy Cook reflects on a strong first half from the Canaries on Thursday night and what the result means for us now, before previewing our visit from London Seaward.
We knew the game against Ipswich would be a tough test, was it just a case of the game getting away from us in the second half?
Once that first one went in, it was a case of, ‘how do we change, how do we get back into the game, what do we need to do?’. To concede two in such a short time, it’s difficult to take but for me, I said it at the end there to the girls, I said it on Tuesday, we’re now still in a cup competition, we’re now in the plate. That’s there to be won and we need to make sure we’re focusing on that, so we’re not too low focusing on this scoreline. The football was fantastic, the way that we set up; the game plan was to try and control the game without the ball and I think we did for periods of that, we knew that they would want to keep the ball and move it across their back three, try and pick us off, and there were some fantastic performances in there. Tactically, the players were fantastic so can’t fault any one of them, they were brilliant on the night, it’s just unfortunate that the scoreline was that.
Prior to the first goal going in, how happy were you with your side for that first hour?
It was 0-0 after an hour against a Tier 3 side who have just moved to pretty much professional, you’ve got to look at that. They were paid to play today whereas our lot aren’t paid at all, they’ve all been working, been at college, university, they’ve been grafting already today and then to put on a performance like that, then wake up tomorrow at 9am and go to work again. I’m just very proud of every one of every single one of them. It’s fantastic, we’ve just got to make sure we’re ready now for Sunday, a big league game
that we want to go and try and earn the right to play again in the first half and see where we go with it at The Nest.
For some of this group it was their first time playing at Carrow Road, and against a tough opposition at that, how big a learning experience is the occasion for them as much as the calibre of opposition?
Issy Moore again has had a fantastic performance against some great players, playing at Carrow Road for the first time, we got Sienna on too and it’s fantastic for her to get her debut. There won’t be many players at 16 years old who can say they made their debut at Carrow Road, so fantastic from her and just everybody, everybody’s worked really hard this week and wanted a place in the squad and deserved it. The 11 that started, the five that came on were fantastic, so it’s one of them where you can’t say anything other than we’re proud, all the staff are so proud and I’m sure everyone in the club can see that.
London Seaward are up next back at The Nest, what are you expecting from them and how are legs looking in such a short turnaround?
I expect a tough game from Seaward, it’s early on in the season, teams are still getting to grips with their performances, what we’re after, what they want to try and do and achieve as well, so we expect a tough test. The players are looking fresh they’ll have had a couple of days away after Thursday and we won’t be training again before then, so we’re happy that everyone is all fit and well after the cup game.
Norwich City Women 0 Ipswich Town Women 4
Norwich City Women suffered a 4-0 defeat to Ipswich Town in the determining round of the FAWNL Cup.
The result means that City will now complete in the FAWNL Plate rather than the cup competition this season.
A valiant Norwich kept the tier three side scoreless until after the hour mark when they would eventually succumb to their East Anglian rivals.
Andy Cook made just two changes to his side that beat Cambridge United 2-0 last Sunday, bringing in Holly Kennard and Lauren Hailes for their first starts of the 2024/25 season.
The match started out in a measured manner, neither side putting much pressure on the other, but Town with the majority of possession.
City’s first attacking spell came from a great run of play from Ellie Smith and Natasha Snelling, who read each other’s movements well to get the ball to Freya Symonds whose cross was just too short for Smith charging goalward.
Sarah Quantrill was called into action after 15 minutes to make a fantastic block to deny Angela Addison, immediately after Leah Mitchell’s effort smashed against the crossbar.
Ipswich remained in control for the next period of play, but were unable to challenge Quantrill or find the target to find the opener.
An important block from Hope Strauss stopped a dangerous looking attack from the Blues, awarding them a corner that Quantrill punched to safety.
The second half start was more controlled from the visitors, pushing their possession into more dangerous areas and threatening to take the lead.
After a triple substitution on the hour mark, the deadlock was broken, as Summer Hughes found the back of the net with a low strike.
A second goal came swiftly after as Natasha Thomas, also a substitute, headed home from a corner in the 65th minute.
The third came from a Sophie Peskett run down the right-hand side. She found Angela Addison in the box to extend Town’s lead.
After a steady spell from City, Peskett then reaped her rewards, making a strong run from just past the halfway line, shooting from the edge of the area and firing home to seal the win.
Lara densLey
Freya symOnds
Lauren
Lauren HaILes
sIenna bOOty
IsabeLLe mOOre
HOLLy kennard
Feature interview
Freya Symonds
Freya Symonds joins us for today’s programme feature interview, reflecting on her time as a Canary, the start to the season and what makes a great away day.
This is now your fourth season with the women’s senior team, what’s the biggest change you can remember from when you first joined back in 2021?
The club has grown so much since then; when I joined we were in a relegation battle and we have climbed the table and are now going for promotion. Since Flo has been with us, she has made such an impact, so much so that we are now training at Colney, which is an amazing facility for us. We also have access to the recovery hub and gym which has helped us massively this season already.
You’re no stranger to scoring goals at Carrow Road, having netted in our Ashford Town win back in 2023. Just describe that feeling when the ball goes in in front of all those fans?
It was unreal, to score at your childhood team’s home ground is such an amazing feeling and one I will never forget.
We know you can score goals, we know you can hold up the midfield and we know you’re great in the air - what do you feel is your best role on the pitch when playing for the Canaries?
I think it would have to be just being there and backing the team, pushing them on to get success. Whether that’s on the pitch battling and working hard for the team, or off the pitch getting behind the team and helping them push on.
From what we’ve seen (and heard), you girls love away days. Just describe the perfect trip to me, from the bus leaving the training ground to all the way home?
When we leave the ground, we have a chat then about an hour in we get the cards out and play chase the ace and a bit of Uno, sometimes we push the boat out and play Perudo (which I win obviously). Then we get the music on and have a sing-song. When we get off the bus it’s full focus on the game.
On the way back we have a bit of karaoke session, regardless of the result and we play some games or watch the football.
Since being with Norwich City Women, you’ve played under four different managers. What kind of style does Andy have and how do you think he’s settled in?
Since he’s come in, he’s settled in like he’d always been there. He gets on with all the girls and coaches too, they’re normally louder than us on the bus! He’s very clear with us about how he wants to play and his favourite quote is: “earn the right to play”, which we have done
well so far. It’s still early on in the season but in the last three games I think it’s clear to see the work we have been putting in pre-season.
We have London Seaward Sunday, a team you netted against in the cup last seasonhow are you feeling going into the game?
Yeah really good, I think I personally have had a good start to the season I’m just missing that goal to get me off the mark. The girls are really looking forward to it, as we do for any game, I think as long as we carry on playing how we have been then we will be fine and hopefully come away with another three points.
We are a very close team and we will always back each other no matter what.
We have such a great squad to choose from this year with so many strengths, so it’s no surprise we’ve already seen rotation in the starting 11 this season. How important is it that whether you’re on the pitch or not that you are keeping the squad encouraged, playing that role of 12th person?
I think it’s probably the most important thing, we are a very close team and we will always back each other no matter what. This season everyone has been great and regardless of if we are starting, on the bench or not in the squad, we have still been there cheering and backing the team.
It was a real battle against Ipswich last night and a scoreline that doesn’t fairly reflect the performance, how are you feeling after last night?
Feeling good, I think we went into the game with a game plan, the game plan worked for the first 65 minutes and we’re all really proud of our performance as we worked together and came together as a team. Now all focus is on the league on Sunday.
What is the biggest thing you can take away from the game and use to improve going forward?
For me it’s just how well we worked together, if we continue to do that all season, I think we can go really far. We worked for each other, and it was a really enjoyable game because of that.
Opposition Overview: London Seaward
This afternoon we welcome London Seaward to The Nest in our third home game in eight days.
Seaward have started their season with one win and one draw, beating Chesham United 2-1 away from home and losing out 1-0 to Dulwich Hamlet on home soil.
The two goals in the season opener both came from forward Katherine Long, within ten minutes of each other in the second half, after the blues had gone behind.
The 2023/24 season saw Seaward finish eighth with 29 points from seven wins, eight draws and seven losses.
These two sides crossed paths three
times during the last campaign, playing twice in the league and once in the third round qualifying of the FA Cup.
Two of the three games ended in a win for the Canaries, with the only draw coming from City’s home league game.
Natasha Snelling was once again on top form for the home league tie, scoring a brace in a 2-2 draw.
The next meeting saw the Canaries drawn away to Seaward in the cup, City edging out the blues 3-1 with goals from Megan Todd, Freya Symonds and Shannon Shaw.
The final tie of the season was played at Barking FC, where City netted twice from Ellie Smith and Snelling in a 2-1 win.
Get to know...
Natasha Snelling Amber Locker
Place of birth
10 33
Norwich
Position
Striker
Nickname
Snellzy
First pair of boots
F50’s
Favourite food
Italian
Favourite drink
Flat white
First choice of snack
Grenade bar
Last thing you do in the dressing room before a match
Kiss my tattoo in memory of my grandad
Pre-match song of choice
Cupid shuffle
Who do you sit next to on the bus to away games
Ellie Smith
Best football match you’ve ever watched
Women’s Euros semi-final
Last holiday destination you visited
Prague
Place of birth
King’s Lynn
Position
Goalkeeper
Nickname
Rosie
Favourite film
The Notebook
Favourite food
Roast dinner
Favourite drink
Apple juice
First choice of snack
Greek yoghurt
Last concert you went to
Festival Too
Pre-match song of choice
Any Adele song
Who do you sit next to on the bus to away games
Nobody
Best football match you’ve ever watched
Women’s Euros final
Last holiday destination you visited Turkey
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teammate masHup episode one
Head cOacH: andy cOOk
saraH quantrILL
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CerI FLye
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meGan tOdd
mILLIe davIss
eLLIe smItH natasHa sneLLInG
tamsIn medd-GILL
eLLa pOweLL
katIe knIGHts
Lara densLey
Freya symOnds
Lauren HaILes
Issy mOOre
Lauren tOmLInsOn
sHannOn sHaw
OLIvIa COOk
jess barnes
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CHarLOtte pernet
HOLLy kennard amber LOCker