Norwich City Women 5 Actonians 1

Natasha Snelling netted a second half hat-trick as Norwich City Women thrashed London-based side Actonians at The Nest to secure their first victory of 2024.

City fielded an attacking line-up and enjoyed a lot of possession in the first half, but created very little from open play, instead posing a real threat with their set-pieces. Just before the half hour mark, Ellie Smith got on the end of Holly Kennard’s corner and put the hosts ahead with a thumping header.

Sarah Quantrill pulled off a fantastic save before half-time to maintain City’s lead, and her teammates made sure her efforts did not go to waste after the break. Snelling’s first arrived only four minutes after the restart, with the striker prodding home from close range.

Actonians substitute Ikraam Mohamed scored to remove Quantrill’s clean sheet shortly afterwards, but City then turned the screw to take the game away from the visitors.

Snelling was heavily involved, first curling the ball home beautifully to restore City’s two-goal advantage, before winning a penalty which Hope Strauss dispatched.

Kennard and Snelling then combined to secure the latter’s treble of goals and round off a thoroughly convincing win for the Canaries.

Norwich City: Quantrill, Daviss (c), Flye, Strauss, Parker, Knights, Morran, Lawrence, Smith, Kennard, Snelling. Subs: Larkins, Symonds, Hailes, Cook, Croft.