Dulwich Hamlet 2 Norwich City Women 3

Norwich City came from behind to beat newly-promoted Dulwich Hamlet in south London on the opening day of the Women’s National League Division One South East season.

New Canaries boss Andy Cook handed full debuts to summer signings Ella Powell and Tamsin Medd-Gill and the latter nearly opened the scoring inside two minutes, with her cross-cum-shot hitting the crossbar.

Dulwich were backed by a noisy home crowd at Champion Hill and matched City in the first half, taking the lead in the 26th minute through Lucy Monkman.

However, City’s response to going behind was excellent, with Shannon Shaw heading them level only two minutes later.

After the interval, City tried to take the initiative in the game and were awarded a penalty just before the hour, which Hope Strauss converted emphatically.

That penalty had been well earned by Ellie Smith and she increased the visitors’ advantage with six minutes to go, dispossessing Dulwich’s Erin Corrigan before rolling the ball home.

The conclusion to the match was more nervy for City than it needed to be thanks to a well-taken headed goal from Dulwich captain Asia Harbour-Brown, but Cook’s side held on to take maximum points from their opening game.

Norwich City: Quantrill (c), Medd-Gill, Flye, Strauss, Tomlinson, Morran, Smith, Powell, Shaw, Snelling, Symonds. Subs: Daviss, Knights, Densley, Hailes, Moore.