Notes from Flo Allen
Good evening and welcome back to The Nest for the second time in less than 72 hours.
Sunday was a tremendous day, starting our league campaign in fine form with just under 400 fans witnessing an opening day win. It was great to have four different goal-scorers on the scoresheet and for Holly Mears to keep a clean sheet on her debut.
Tonight, we welcome fellow Tier 4 side Peterborough United to The Nest in our opening FA WNL Cup fixture. Like ourselves, Peterborough United began their league campaign on Sunday with a win and they will be a tough test this evening.
This season Amber Locker will be dualregistered with Tier 5 side Dussindale & Hellesdon Women; we wish Amber the best of luck for the season.
I hope you all enjoy this evening’s game! OTBC!
Head Coach Notes
Head coach Andy Cook reflected on Sunday’s opening day game, praising his side for a perfect opening day tie.
Andy, first game, first win, four goals and a clean sheet. You must be absolutely delighted with that performance?
It was brilliant, we had a game plan that we wanted to try and work and we felt it worked brilliantly. We wanted to make sure we nullified them in the first half to get us into a good position. Going in at half-time with the lead, we wanted to extend it. Millie and Evie spoke in the huddle at the end and said the start of the second half was exactly what we needed. So, I am delighted with the performance, the four goals and more importantly the clean sheet. We know how important they are; Quants (Sarah Quantrill) got the Golden Glove award last year and Holly (Mears) started off with one for herself.
We’ve kicked on a gear now compared to preseason, how hard have you been working in training to level us up for the season ahead?
We’ve been working a lot on what we want to achieve in games, whether that’s the buildup, creating chances, our shape or just our defensive moments and today that has all come together. Some of the individual performances were absolutely outstanding and it was difficult to make subs because no one deserved to
Andy Cook
come off in the starting 11. It was very much a case of bringing people off in preparation for Tuesday night. That meant unfortunately Poppy and Lara didn’t get any minutes, but they will be involved in Tuesday’s game.
The four goals on Sunday were all so different, how pleasing is it that we can score goals in such a variety of ways and areas?
We’ve gone a little bit more detailed in some of the set-plays that we do, in possession we want to make sure we are in good areas in the final third, taking our time and just be nice and composed. I think that is something that doesn’t get talked about an awful lot; it’s all very well and good creating the chances but we need the players to be calm, have cool heads and find the goal. Today we managed to do that and I think we could have had a few more as well. We’re really looking forward to the next couple of months to see where we can go, but most importantly for me, we got the result. If it was 1-0, we would’ve taken that.
How important was it to start strong on the opening today to take us forward for the rest of the season?
Always, but it doesn’t matter if it is the season opener; we wanted to make sure we were starting the game well and we did that. We need to make sure that we kick on now, we rest and we’re ready for a cup game under the lights.
Norwich City 4 Actonians 0
Sunday, August 17
Norwich City ran out convincing winners in their opening day Division One South East fixture, beating Actonians Women 4-0 on home turf.
Two fantastic strikes from Ellie Bishop and Holly Kennard opened the scoring, alongside goals for Natasha Snelling and Grace Riglar.
With newly-announced captain Sarah Quantrill on the sidelines with a hand injury, Holly Mears stepped in between the sticks and Riglar wore the armband for the Canaries.
Kennard had the first attempt at goal, a ball in from Millie Daviss crossed her path in the box but the winger couldn’t get enough on it to test Elisa Dogor in goal for the visitors.
A hit from Molly O’Reilly went well wide after an Actonians corner in the fifth minute for the first attack from the visitors.
City then had their breakthrough with a lovely strike from Bishop in the 23rd minute.
The ball fell to her from outside the area and with her second touch she rattled the crossbar, the ball bouncing over the line and a goal given.
Actonians tried to respond immediately, O’Reilly getting a shot inside the area that was only narrowly wide of Mears’ goal.
An awkward shot from Snelling forced Dogor to tip the effort behind for a Norwich corner.
A trademark Olivia Cook throw-in found Evie
Williams in the box to knock a ball into the feet of Riglar, who volleyed an effort into the hands of Dogor.
City enjoyed a strong spell in the opening minutes of the second half, Freya Symonds striking a ball that was only narrowly high of the bar.
The lead was then doubled by another fantastically struck effort, this time from Kennard.
The winger stole possession deep in the Actonians half and fired a strike into an empty net, catching Dogor out from her goal-kick.
City continued to enjoy more spells of possession, Snelling having successive efforts only marginally off-target and a longrange effort from Eloise King came close to a third for City.
Things were then made even harder for the hosts as captain Jennie Brereton was shown a red card for bringing down Snelling as the last player through on goal.
The forward eventually found her goal, Snelling tapping in an effort from close-range to extend the lead with four minutes on the clock.
A penalty was then awarded in the 90th minute after excellent play from Lauren Hailes, who stole the ball on the edge of the area and after rounding her defender was brought down in the box.
Riglar stepped up and slotted the ball cooly into the bottom left corner for Norwich’s fourth.
2025/26 Squad
2 3 5 6 8 12 22 25
Sarah Quantrill Amber Locker Holly Mears
Grace Riglar Ellie Bishop
Ceri Flye
Evie Williams
Millie Daviss Tamsin Medd-Gill Poppy Francis Hope Strauss
Eloise King
Ellie Smith Freya Symonds
Lauren Hailes
Issy Moore
Drew Wilson
Sienna Booty
Eloise Hall
Natasha Snelling Holly Kennard
Lara Densley
Olivia Cook
Feature Interview: Drew Wilson
Tonight’s feature interview focuses on Drew Wilson, a young academy graduate who broke into the first-team last season. She talks about preparing for tonight’s match and analyses pre-season.
What do you enjoy most about playing for Norwich City?
I love the team atmosphere and how every player is there if you need something, but I also love how each player pushes you to that next level. I think the team work ethic and drive are why I love showing up to training and games, because I know every session is going to be a good one.
How have you found pre-season this year, particularly the weekend away with the camp?
I have loved pre-season and my favourite part was definitely the camp. It was an amazing experience in terms of football but also I think it allowed me to bond a bit more with the team. I especially enjoyed the chaotic games of Dobble!
This will be your first full season in women’s football; what was your biggest takeaway from training and playing with the squad last season?
The main thing I have taken away from last season is to just keep working hard, even when you or the team is in its lowest moments. A lot of
As a younger player it can be difficult sometimes but the whole squad is definitely there to support you, which am I so grateful for.
players share this attitude and as a young player it is always nice to have role models that you can look up to.
As one of the youngest in the squad, is there a player in the team who you have looked up to and who has taken you under their wing?
I think the whole team has been really welcoming and support. As a younger player it can be difficult sometimes but the whole squad is definitely there to support you, which am I so grateful for.
This will be our first tie against Peterborough since a pre-season test two years ago. How do we prepare for
cup games like this, having little experience against the opposition?
We prepare like we always do, take every game and training session as it comes. We will obviously do our analysis to make sure we have an idea of their style of play, but we know they are a good side so we are expecting a tough game.
How much do you enjoy evening kick-offs and do you have to change much about your matchday routine?
I love an evening kick-off because it gives me more time to prepare myself for the game. I also love playing under the lights!
The Visitors: Peterborough United
This evening we welcome Peterborough United to The Nest for the first of our group stage games in the FAWNL League Cup.
The Cambridgeshire side play in Division One Midlands, having finished the 2024/25 season in third place.
They collected 51 points after 16 wins and three draws, only losing three league ties.
Keir Perkins and Tara Kirk were joint top scorers for the Posh Women, with 10 goals netted each.
The Posh Women progressed as far as the second round of the cup, losing out to the eventual Northern Premier Division champions, Nottingham Forest.
City will also face Real Bedford and Cambridge United in Group L.
Head Coach: Andy Cook
Sarah Quantrill
Grace Riglar
Ellie Bishop
Eloise King
Ceri Flye
Evie Williams
Eloise Hall
Millie Daviss
Ellie Smith
Natasha Snelling
Holly Kennard
Tamsin Medd-Gill
Lara Densley
Freya Symonds
Lauren Hailes
Issy Moore
Amber Locker
Poppy Francis
Olivia Cook
Drew Wilson
Hope Strauss
Sienna Booty
Holly Mears