Norwich City Canaries 0   Colchester Utd LFC    2  (Willshire 40, Longhurst 81)

 Match Report courtesy of Doris DayColchester travelled to Norwich with 5 first team regulars missing through injury or holiday but played their best football of the season to come home with a 2-0 win. The only surprise was that they didn't win by a bigger margin.

Colchester created all the early pressure with Danielle Griffiths playing in an unfamiliar midfield role slotting in nicely providing good passes to the feet of her forwards. Ami Warnes returned to the side from injury and helped give the team width down the right with a superb display as Emma Dunmore did down the left, producing her best display yet for the ladies.

Debut girl Kerry Willshire was outstanding and put Kate Longhurst through early on, but her intended lob finished wide of the goal. In the 20th minute Norwich were saved by the crossbar when Griffiths played in Warnes, who struck a vicious shot only to see it bounce back out to safety. Minutes later Longhurst put Griffiths through and she took the ball into the penalty area before shooting inches wide of the target. Colchester were playing with confidence and only had one scary moment when Jade Morgan's wicked slice went flying towards her own goal, but Louise Murphy was in the right position to gather the ball safely. Colchester took the lead in the 40th minute when Morgan's throw in down the right was dummied by Longhurst and Colchester's Willshire, a new signing from Sophtlogic, sweetly lifted the ball over the impressive Norwich keeper for a great finish.

Half Time 0-1

Colchester again started brightly and created further chances with Willshire, Longhurst and Dunmore all going close. Norwich did start to play some good passing football, but they were restricted to shots from 30 yards that failed to trouble Murphy. At the other end Longhurst put Willshire through on goal but her delicate shot finished just wide of the target.
 
The game started to become more of a contest in midfield and Emma Wake together with Griffiths, Dunmore and Warnes had to be at their best to keep Norwich pegged back in their own half. Hannah Porter at left back, gave the Norwich winger little space and when they attacked through the middle, the
ever reliable Laura Watson and Jane Swift were on hand to mop up. Warnes, who despite lacking match fitness, had a great match, was replaced by Charlotte Twydell as Colchester tried to close the game out.

They had to wait until the 81st minute for the second goal though, when Dunmore chased a lost cause down the left, won the ball, found Longhurst in the penalty area and watched as she waltzed by 3 Norwich defenders before placing the ball past the Norwich keeper for an excellent finish. More action followed minutes later when Griffiths had her shirt pulled in the area as she shot, but still managed to hit the bar with a brilliant effort, but the referee whistled and awarded Colchester a penalty. Longhurst struck her penalty cleanly but saw her effort bounce back of the post. There wasn't much time for Norwich to come back, they tried gallantly but the match finished with Colchester going home 2-0 victors.

This was an impressive performance by Colchester as they kept their 5th successive clean sheet and head off to Oxford with confidence for next weeks WFA cup tie at Oxford.