Norwich City FC suffered a defeat in their match against Southern Premier Division team London Bees in a competition that included every tier three and four team in the country. The loss marked their first defeat under manager Herdman. Despite being disappointed with the result, Herdman viewed it as a reality check for the team and a reminder that they still have room to improve. Both teams put on a flat performance, with the two goals that sealed the victory for London Bees being long-range efforts into the top corner. Herdman acknowledged that even top teams have off days and expressed his desire for the team to get back on track.
The first half of the match was underwhelming for Norwich City, but they showed improvement after the break, although they were not able to force extra time. At halftime, Herdman and the players discussed the issues they were facing and made adjustments to their formation, adding an extra player upfront to aid with pressing. The match was evenly balanced, and Herdman believed that with some tweaks, Norwich City would have been able to secure a victory if the match had been played at home.
Centre-back Ceri Flye spoke about the team’s ability to adapt their formation during the match, switching between a back four and a back three. Flye believed that having this flexibility would be a strength for the team going forward. Flye, who had recently returned from injury, expressed her excitement at being back on the pitch and getting 90 minutes of play under her belt. Despite the loss, she was looking forward to the upcoming games and was determined to make a positive impact for the team.
The match saw Norwich City fielding a 4-3-3 formation, with Quantrill in goal, Daviss, Larkins, Flye, and Tomlinson in defense, Strauss, Smith, and Stanley in midfield, and Cook, Shaw, and Todd in attack. The substitutions made during the match included Parker, Harper, Knights, Lawrence, Morran, and Todd. The team is now focused on their upcoming match against Ashford Town.
Overall, the match against London Bees highlighted the need for continued improvement for Norwich City FC. Despite the defeat, the team remained optimistic about their future prospects and were determined to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
