Norwich City faced their first defeat of the season in the Women’s National League Cup as they were beaten by London Bees at The Hive. Despite playing against a third-tier team, City struggled to gain control of the game in the first half. The Bees looked more threatening throughout, and they took the lead five minutes before halftime when Kayla Potter expertly chipped the ball past City goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill from the edge of the box.
At halftime, Norwich City made a tactical change, switching to a back three. This alteration seemed to improve their performance, but they still found it difficult to create scoring opportunities. As the game entered the final ten minutes and City pushed for an equalizer, the Bees took advantage of their vulnerability and scored a second goal. Abbie Bensted found space and delivered an impressive long-range shot that beat Quantrill, securing the victory for the Bees.
The Norwich City lineup consisted of Quantrill in goal, Daviss, Larkins, Flye, Tomlinson, Strauss, Smith, Stanley, Cook, Shaw, and Todd. Substitutes included Parker, Knights, Harper, Morran, and Lawrence. Despite their efforts, Norwich City was unable to overcome the strong performance of the London Bees.
This defeat serves as a reminder that even teams from lower tiers can pose a formidable challenge. Norwich City, being from a higher league, may have underestimated London Bees, which ultimately cost them their unbeaten run in the season. The loss will undoubtedly be a learning experience for the team and may prompt them to approach future matches with greater caution. However, it is important for Norwich City to regroup, analyze their performance in this game, and continue their pursuit of success in the Women’s National League Cup.
