Mulbarton Wanderers Norwich City: Women's County Cup final report

Two second-half goals secured the victory for City, rounding off a positive campaign after a fourth-placed league finish.

More than 2,600 fans were in attendance, just a month after 7,600 had packed into the stadium for the 5-3 win over Ashford Town.

Alice Parker opened the scoring in that game, and almost repeated the trick here with a curling free-kick that Joanne Hooper saved well.

Rebecca Russell was the next to try a shot from range, but Hooper cleared at the second attempt.

Kathryn Stanley then had the game's best opening when she headed Ellie Smith's cross over the bar, before Katie Knights continued the barrage of shots when she fired wide with the outside of her foot.

Megan Todd thought she had the opener when she met Parker's cross in the 18th minute, but her header crashed against the bar and away.

Smith came close when she had the last kick of a goalmouth scramble a minute later, but her effort ricocheted behind for a corner.

City's dominance continued throughout the half but Wanderers somehow held on, going into half time miraculously level after another fantastic Hooper save denied Todd.

After 45 minutes of frustrated attempts to open the scoring, however, it took only two in the second half, Ceri Flye rising to head a corner home and open the scoring.

Mulbarton had their first shot on target 12 minutes later when Bryony Williams collected Sophie Jermy's shot, but Norwich quickly re-established the dominance they'd enjoyed all game.

Clever interplay between Smith and Natasha Snelling then found Freya Symonds with a chance to double the lead, but she dragged wide.

Presented with a similar opportunity in the same minute, she chose to pass this time, teeing up Katie Knights for a tap-in to make it 2-0.

She celebrated by charging over to head coach Shaun Howes, who was overseeing his final game with the Canaries.

His side saw the game out comfortably, substitute Olivia Cook converting Symonds' cross for a third.

Mulbarton Wanderers: Hooper (GK), Lincoln, Alice Smith, Megan Belsey, Hedtke (Catchpole, 83), Melissa Belsey (Farmer, 56), Hunter (Ladbrooke, 83), Lake (C), Olivia Smith (Mungham-Gray, 86), Jermy, Ryan (Anelieise Smith, 86).

Bookings: Catchpole (90+6)

Norwich City: Williams (GK), Parker (Todd, 90), Larkins (C), Todd (Symonds, 45), Smith (Stanley, 84), Snelling (Cook, 73), Russell (Morran, 57), Stanley (Gambell, 45), Knights (Russell, 84), Flye, Croft (Daviss, 61).

Goals: Flye (47), Knights (68), Cook (90+5)

Referee: Callum Parke

Injury time: 2 mins/8 mins

Attendance: 2,690