NORWICH CITY WOMEN: 2025 begins with crucial win in the capital
Yesterday at 05:56 AM
2025 is officially upon us and with a new year comes new opportunities.
And a new opportunity is exactly what this Norwich City side needs if they are to mount a promotion charge.
City’s women suffered a disastrous end to a year which began with so much promise, slumping to eighth in the WNL Division One South East by the end of 2024, after rounding off the year with successive defeats against Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup and then away to Cambridge United in the league.
With all the major cups out of the way (bar the county cup), now is the time for this group to reset and solely focus on climbing the table and being in contention for promotion.
It's not impossible but Andy Cook's side will have to have a near-perfect run in the league from now until May if they are to finish top of the tree.
After a two-week break over the festive period, City headed to the capital to take on London Seaward looking to earn a first league win since September.
The first chance of the game went City's way, with Shannon Shaw finding space to pick out Lauren Tomlinson but the header was a simple save for Seaward’s keeper Alex Baker.
Norwich continued on the front foot and thought they'd been rewarded for their efforts after a quarter of an hour but Shaw's effort was ruled offside.
Starting games strong is something this Norwich side is used to and has done time and time again this season. It's been seeing out the results that have been the side's Achilles heel.
The game began to even out a touch, with both sides having half chances and both very much in the feeling out stage.
Freya Symonds delivered a sumptuous corner straight to Issy Moore who fired her effort wide before Sarah Quantrill had to be alert to a long-range effort ten minutes later.
Ten minutes before the interval, the game would finally swing in City's favour.
A handball in the area saw them, awarded a penalty, and with Hope Strauss on the pitch, a goal from 12-yards is almost a foregone conclusion.
Strauss didn't disappoint, adding to her sublime penalty tally by firing her effort into the top corner for 1-0 City.
Cook's side had been rewarded for their hard work in the first half but knew they needed to maintain those high standards to leave Redbridge with the three points.
London Seaward flew out of the blocks in the second half, forcing Quantrill into an early save.
Ten minutes later and the game was almost level, with the former Arsenal goalkeeper again called into action – making a crucial stop from a one-on-one situation.
City recaptured the momentum but could only muster up half-chances which didn't do much to trouble Baker.
Into the dying embers and the Canaries needed that maturity that saw them challenge for promotion last season.
So many times this campaign they have chucked away wins carelessly but this felt different as Seaward's chances were limited.
A dangerous free kick in injury time would see the hosts come close, but the effort just fizzed wide of the post and ensured the Canaries left London with all three points.
I'm sure a huge sigh of relief was felt throughout the team as City earnt their first league win since September.
Whether it was a bad day at the office for the hosts or Norwich are well and truly back remains to be seen, but this result will certainly do wonders for the squad and relieve pressure on Cook.
If the side can carry this belief into their upcoming games, then there's no reason why they still can't challenge this season.
The result moves them up two places to sixth, eight points behind league leaders Chatham Town.
Up next is the first 2025 home game at The Nest against Ashford Town of Middlesex, who coincidentally were the last side City beat in the league before this result.
The result that day was an emphatic 6-0 victory, which suggests the possibility of back-to-back wins is strong and something they need to capitalise on.
