Norwich City Women are through to round two of the FAWNL League Cup after beating an unbeaten AFC Bournemouth side in extra time on Sunday afternoon.
The game kicked off with a suitably cagey feel as the two sides probed and assessed each other.
Olivia Cook caused the first fright for the hosts with a signature long throw-in, nearly turning the ball neatly into the Cherries’ net by their own player.
Bournemouth responded, but with nothing too clear cut as Sarah Quantrill made a series of comfortable saves.
On the half-hour mark, Norwich were given their first real scare when tricky winger Helen Corbin cut inside and fizzed an effort marginally wide of the far post.
A handful of chances fell to both sides in the final stages of the first half, but neither goalkeeper was too troubled, as the half ended with the deadlock waiting to be broken.
The second half kicked off as cautious as the first, with little to write home about in the early stages, but it was Norwich who would strike first.
In the 55th minute, the Canaries burst into life, when Shannon Shaw picked up the ball on the edge of the box and found Lawrence wide on the left wing. The number 24 got her head up and perfectly picked out Freya Symonds to side-foot home for the first goal, to the elation of the travelling faithful.
The hosts responded with intent, calling for some heroics from skipper Anna Larkins who made a goal-saving intervention on the hour mark.
Bournemouth continued to look for a way back into the game with wave after wave of attack and 20 minutes from time they did just that, through a fine goal from Lucy Cooper.
The onslaught continued with a few late scares for the Canaries.
First, Alisha Buckingham rattled the post in the 84th minute before Larkins saved the day again with a goal-line clearance in the 89th minute to force extra time.
Extra time brought tired legs, cramps, and sizable delays to play, combined with a catalogue of incredible Sarah Quantrill saves to keep the game alive.
In the 111th minute, a moment of magic would seal the fate of the tie.
Rachel Lawrence burst away down the left-hand side, dropped her shoulder and unleashed an audacious strike from 25 yards out to beat a helpless Daniela Kosinska in the Bournemouth goal.
Bournemouth’s best efforts to claw back a late goal were once again squashed by some unbelievable late saves from Quantrill to secure the victory for Norwich.
