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Welcome back, Steven.
We hope to have a positive result this weekend and get back to winning ways as we continue our run in the plate competition.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Nest for today’s FA WNL Plate first round fixture against Tier 3 side, MK Dons.
This afternoon is the third fixture in seven days for our City side, with a welcomed return to The Nest today following a fixture reversal with MK Dons, due to their ground being unavailable.
The last two away fixtures against Chesham and AFC Sudbury demonstrated both the strength of the league, but also the unpredictable nature that we will continue to face week-in-week-out against resolute oppositions. Whilst we were disappointed to have only picked up two points from the last two fixtures, the team showed great resilience in both fixtures.
Today is a great opportunity to focus on a
different challenge in the FA WNL Plate, with the potential to progress into the second round of the competition following a win today. Although MK Dons have found points hard to come by in the league above, they will provide a tough challenge this afternoon. We hope to have a positive result this weekend and get back to winning ways as we continue our run in the plate competition.
We look forward to welcoming you all back to The Nest on Sunday, October 6 for our fixture against Real Bedford.
Enjoy this afternoon’s game.
OTBC.
Andy Cook
We can’t wait to play at The Nest again
Head coach Andy Cook shared his thoughts after Tuesday night’s draw to AFC Sudbury and looked ahead to today’s game against MK Dons.
We started well on Tuesday night, scoring inside five minutes, but then we couldn’t kill the game off with that second goal. Why do you think that was?
We had a good game plan, they had a high press and went player for player, which we had to find our way around in the first half. We had a little bit of success, Quants was holding the ball and allowing them to press and then we tried to play around them. Credit to Sudbury on the way they set up in that first half, unfortunately for us they’ve managed to play over us and got through. Those opening moments though, we were delighted with the cross in and then the goal was fantastic, so we were really pleased with the opening parts of the game there.
We might not have taken home all three points but in parts we did play really well, we particularly want to highlight Ceri Flye and the defence, would you agree they kept us in the game at times on the night?
Absolutely, the back line has been brilliant, Issy (Moore) going in there and playing out of her normal position, then Hope (Strauss) and Ceri (Flye) have been great. We’ve also had Millie (Daviss) in there in the last couple of games, which has been really good, so the defenders were fantastic, and they were put under real pressure by some very good attackers and they did well in those moments. We’re obviously frustrated not to come away with the three points but a point away from home, we’re kind of pleased with it.
We know it’s unlike her, but seeing Holly Kennard get sent off on the day must have been tough on the girls and she would have been disappointed too, how do we pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off now?
Holly was unfortunate with the first yellow, she’s local to the area so they know all about her, so I think they had a game plan with her there, but we’ve got to manage that. We had 20 minutes left, so we played a slightly different formation after that without her, but it’s down to me, I’ve got to look at myself first and make sure that we get things right moving forward. Fortunately, we have a nice big game on Sunday against Milton Keynes, which has been rearranged for The Nest, so it will be good to get a few hundred people in there to put a show on and make sure we’re ready and raring to go in front of the Canaries.
How excited are we to be back at home again now, and show what we’re all about against a Tier 3 side?
That’s what the cup allows us to do, it allows us to showcase ourselves against the higher league opposition, that’s where we want to be. So it’s a good test for us, and we’ve got to make sure the players recover well, we’ve got training Thursday night and then we’ll be ready to go. We can’t wait to play at The Nest again because three away games in eight days is always a tough one.
AFC Sudbury Women 1 Norwich City Women 1
City played out a 1-1 draw away to AFC Sudbury on Tuesday night, with Tamsin MeddGill on the scoresheet for the Canaries.
The point keeps the Canaries top of Division One South East but now without Holly Kennard, who was sent to the dressing room early after a second yellow card in the 77th minute.
A floodlit MEL Group Stadium welcomed a Canaries side looking to bounce back to their best against a steadily improving AFC Sudbury.
It took just three minutes for City to call the Sudbury goalkeeper Nina Heollo into action as a Shannon Shaw flicked effort was palmed away for a corner.
The subsequent short-corner routine found Freya Symonds, who whipped a sweet cross onto the head of high-rising Medd-Gill to open the scoring in the fifth minute.
The hosts responded well, creating a handful of half-chances on the break, but it was Norwich who continued to dominate for large spells of the opening 20 minutes.
Sudbury’s best chance of the opening half an hour came down the right flank, taking a headed block by Ceri Flye to thwart a dangerous ball into the area with oncoming traffic.
City continued to push and very nearly doubled their advantage on 30 minutes, but Shaw couldn’t quite direct her effort goalward.
The quarter-hour approaching half-time saw end-to-end football, with both sides creating
numerous opportunities, the hosts enjoying the lion’s share heading into the break.
Norwich started the second half the livelier of the two sides, using Kennard’s pace in behind to create crossing opportunities and apply pressure to the Sudbury area. In the 48th minute, one of these crosses found Snelling, who took the ball beautifully on the turn but couldn’t find the target.
Jessica Allen continued to provide an outlet for AFC Sudbury, firing just over the crossbar in the 52nd minute after a clever turn – the first real scare for City.
Ellie Smith replaced Ella Powell just shy of an hour and looked to make an instant impact. A quick break from midfield and a lovely turn and set from Snelling saw Symonds striking the ball from all of 30 yards out, cannoning off the crossbar and leaving all Norwich fans at the MEL Group Stadium wishing it had goal-line technology, but no goal given.
City’s frustrations would grow deeper in the 70th minute as a looping ball over the top found the ever-present Allen to fire home into the bottom corner and level the scoreline.
As Norwich chased a winner, gaps opened in behind and a late challenge from Kennard to prevent a counter would see her receive a second yellow with just under 15 minutes to play.
A resilient Canaries display would see Sarah Quantrill called into action on several occasions in the latter stages of the game as neither side could force a late winner.
Lara densLey
Freya symOnds
Lauren
Lauren HaILes
sIenna bOOty
IsabeLLe mOOre
HOLLy kennard
Feature interview
Millie Daviss
Millie Daviss caught up with the club to reflect on the midweek league result, talk through her injuries and life as a Canary.
You made a really great substitute performance on the day, what did you make of the performance?
We came out really strong and got the first goal, which was really important for us to get that early and usually allows us to build on our momentum and there were some really good spells on the day, some really good spells of football. I think towards the end of the game, when they got their goal and we went down to 10, we had to dig deep on another level. The girls worked their socks off, we did well not to concede another goal. We always want to try and get one at the end and that’s really what we tried to do out there, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t get it on Tuesday.
Sudbury did make it really tricky for us and could have gone ahead; what was the hardest part about their game plan?
They were relentless, they matched up really well against each player on the pitch. When you’re playing against a team like us that are fighting for a place up the top, you’re going to come out all guns blazing, you’ll want to take
your opportunities and Sudbury did. They made it really difficult on the night, but we just have to keep pushing on, it’s a long season.
It was a lively crowd on the night, especially being Holly Kennard’s home town; do you find it more encouraging when the opposition supporters make lots of noise or does it add an extra level of difficulty?
I think at one point they were signing ‘Yellows!’, so it kind of felt like home! We love playing in front of a crowd, whether that’s a home crowd, away crowd, it gives you an extra push, extra momentum and fight, so the fans were great.
Today is our third game in eight days, with very limited training sessions in between, does that explain maybe why we’ve dropped points in the last few games?
As I said, it is a long season and there will be glimpses of fatigue and it is tricky, we’re doing everything we can to recover with the help of our backroom staff, so really we have no excuse. Like all players in this league, we go from a full day working to playing 90 minutes, so it’s tough
THE DEEP DARK SIDE OF DETECTIVE WORK
FRIDAY 18 TH OCTOBER, 7 pm gunn club , carrow road
but we don’t use that as an excuse. We have to keep pushing on and being relentless. It’s games like this where we do ideally want the three points, we just now need to go and get them.
You picked up a slight knock against Chesham United, and still managed to play minutes against Sudbury, how are you feeling after that?
I feel good! It’s an ongoing issue I’ve been having since the start of the season, and unfortunately on the Sunday against Chesham, it did flare up. Thankfully, it’s nothing too serious and I can manage it and get over it in two or three days with the help of our physio, Gill. On Sunday it didn’t feel likely that I’d be in the squad for the Sudbury game, let alone get some minutes without pain, so that was a bonus! But it’s always great to be on the pitch with the girls, and show what you are capable of, hopefully ready to go again on Sunday against MK Dons.
Speaking of Chesham, although you didn’t play the full 90, you were selected to start
the game, after the injuries you’ve picked up and some of the setbacks, just describe how great that felt?
It was so great to be back on the pitch as a starter, I’ve been working hard to get to where I want to be, both in training, with analysis, nutrition, recovery, and through some one-toone sessions with Andy working on specifics. Everything I can control, I will, and that’s what will get me to where I want to be, and that’s starting I suppose. However, I am happy with any minutes I get and whatever I can do for the team on and off the pitch, I will always do what I can.
Sunday’s game has been moved to a home game, which works in our advantage; how much do you and the girls like playing at The Nest?
We all love playing at The Nest. It’s our home, and when we get 300+ fans coming to watch week in and week out, we have to perform to the best of our abilities. It does feel like one big community, with the fans chanting and chatting to us after the game, it’s really enjoyable.
It’s games like this where we do ideally want the three points, we just now need to go and get them.
You’ve been brought into the side in a couple of positions so far this season, where do you feel you play your best and do you like the variety?
I think it’s always good to be a versatile player; it has helped me to understand the game a lot better, so in that sense, it has helped me to develop a lot as a player. I love playing at right back at the moment, pressing aggressively and being able to get high to support the attacks. I don’t mind where I play, as long as I am positively impacting the game, I’m happy with that.
All of you girls work full-time alongside playing for the club, how do you find managing your jobs and any other hobbies you might have with playing or training for football?
I must say, it’s not easy, but we do it because we love it. It’s made easier through the support we get, but we do have a lot on. I
have just started a new role as a lecturer at the University of East Anglia, and I love it, but it is intense. So, it’s all about being able to manage and prioritise your time, which I think I have developed over a long period of playing, studying and working, and that has helped me to juggle a lot all at once.
We all love matchdays, but the bus journey is particularly fun on an away day; why do you think that is and what do the players get up to on those trips?
We love an away day! It’s really good fun, we are all like a family so it’s easy to enjoy away days when you’re spending sometimes 10+ hours at once with each other. We play cards, UNO a lot of the time, and I am the UNO champ (ask Freya), we sing and make some questionable TikTok’s, and just have a laugh. However, we do know when it’s time to switch on and concentrate for the game which is important!
Opposition Overview: MK Dons
This weekend we welcome MK Dons to The Nest in the first round of the FAWNL Plate.
The Tier 3 side will be looking to pick up their first win of the 2024/25 season, as they currently sit bottom of the Southern Premier Division with just one point so far.
Although a difficult start for the Dons, Dene Walsh’s side recently earned an emphatic draw against Billericay Town, with six goals across the game.
Forward Sydney Wootton bagged two goals in two
minutes in the first half to keep it at 2-2, then Annaliese Jacovides got the final equaliser in the 75th minute.
The last outing for the Dons saw them host Oxford United at Stadium MK in a midweek league clash, with United walking away with all three points.
T’yana Nee-Chambers pulled one back for MK early in the first half, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Yellows prevailing.
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HEAd cOAcH: Andy cOOk
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CerI FLye
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eLLIe smItH
tamsIn medd-GILL
eLLa pOweLL
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Freya symOnds
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HOLLy kennard amber LOCker