Norwich City Women interim boss Scott Emmerson admitted it was "a shame" that his side could only draw with Queens Park Rangers in their second game at Carrow Road this season.

Nearly 6,000 spectators turned out at the club's home stadium to cheer on the promotion-chasing Canaries, who are undefeated in the National League Division One South East.

Two quick-fire goals in the first-half from Rachel Lawrence and Ellie Smith put City in front after Grace Stanley's opener, but the QPR striker netted again before the break to draw her side level.

City pushed for a crucial third goal in the second period but failed to find it, and as a result now find themselves 10 points behind league leaders AFC Wimbledon, who they visit next.

Reflecting on an entertaining contest, Emmerson said: "It probably still hasn't fully sunk in yet because the atmosphere the crowd created today for the women's team has been absolutely fantastic.

The Pink Un: Natasha Snelling shoots

"Everyone has come out and given us some really good support. It's just a shame that we couldn't get the win. (We were) close on so many occasions, it was just one of those games when we just couldn't take the final step.

“In that last 25 minutes, we got in behind a number of times but unfortunately haven't been able to take our chances to get us across the line.

"We're still unbeaten. We know it's a little bit out of our hands now, but we're still going to Wimbledon next week.

"We'll give it a good go. We've got nothing to lose, so let's go there and see what happens."
 
Goalscorer Lawrence agreed that it was disappointing to only pick up a single point, but said she thoroughly enjoyed playing at Carrow Road again.

She stated: "We had such momentum going into it, knowing we had to win today in terms of the league, which I think makes it that bit harder that we didn't win.

The Pink Un: QPR snatched a point at Carrow Road

"It felt like an even bigger occasion (than Cambridge United in September). More people, more on the game. It was crazy, but yeah, I wish we'd won.

"It's out of our hands going into AFC Wimbledon next week, but we've just got to hope for the best now."

Lawrence's goal was the afternoon's standout moment, with the winger chipping the ball over QPR goalkeeper Nicole Melling from 40 yards out, sparking some raucous celebrations in the stands.

Explaining her effort, Lawrence said: "I saw the keeper off her line and I knew I had to shoot. I felt like I would've been wasting the chance if I didn't, so I knew I had to shoot and I was so happy when it went in.

"It felt crazy. I wanted to celebrate but obviously it was just one-one so I had to keep it calm.

The Pink Un: Natasha Snelling rues a missed opportunity

"It's definitely one of my favourite goals. I think I still don't properly feel how crazy it is right now, but I'll watch it back and I'll eventually realise!"

Sunday's goal took Lawrence onto five for the season, and Emmerson was full of praise for the youngster, who has been a key attacking outlet for City since joining from Peterborough United last summer.

He said: "She's a very talented player, and she has a lot of ability, and it was good that she took that opportunity.

"She saw it and thought, 'I've got nothing to lose'. She took it, gambled on it, and it paid off.

"It was hard to work out. As soon as it left her foot, you're thinking, 'is it in? Is it not?' And you're still trying to work out the flight of the ball, and at that point the sun was beginning to break through so you're trying to see where it's landing.

"All of a sudden there was this massive roar around us, so we definitely knew it had hit the back of the net at that point."

Norwich City (3-4-2-1): Quantrill; Larkins (c), Strauss, Flye (Hailes 74); Parker, Knights (Symonds 81), Morran, Tomlinson (Kennard 64); Smith, Lawrence; Snelling (Shaw 90). Unused sub: Pernet.