AFC Ladies made the long trek into central Norfolk to Swanton Morley Army Barracks to play Norwich City Reserves in the League cup. They travelled with only twelve players as top scorer Chloe Mills was out unwell, and both Kerry Humphreys and Kate Baker unavailable.

It was a bright sunny afternoon but Sudbury got off to the worst possible start by conceding two goals inside four minutes. Some of the the side looked very leggy, this may have been down to the two hour journey for some players.

AFC began to settle down and were unlucky not to score when a great ball from Natalie Golding found Jodie Sharp and the keeper made a fantastic save from six yards. 
Another piece of good work from Sharp saw her beat two defenders to go one on one with the keeper, he shot from a tight angle just rolled past the post.
Norwich went 3-0 up, but Sudbury hit back and scored with a great lob from Kayleigh Stead, this was from twenty-five yards and sailed into the net via the post.
Sudbury had two  further chances at goal but they were not taken and Norwich scored twice more to lead at 5-1 at half time.

During the half time break manager Golding tried to encourage his team as they had had chances to score and it could have easily been 5-4 at the break.
Changes were made with Lottie Churchman coming out of goal and being replaced by Natalie Curtin, with Lana King moving to centre half.

Sudbury came out well at the start of the second half and scored another superb goal when a Sharp shot from 25 yards out looped into the top corner with the Norwich keeper beaten all ends up.
Sudbury were now dominating the game and Churchman was playing very well at left back and giving a better balance to the defence.
Sudbury scored a third when Charlotte Warren played a ball to Emma Squirrell just outside the box, she turned two defenders to shoot past the keeper to make it 5-3.
Sudbury continued to play well in the second half and fine work between Natalie Golding and Sharp saw the latter cross dangerously into the six yard box to narrowly miss Stead’s head.
Norwich scored a sixth with four minutes left during which time Charlotte Golding sustaining a nasty knee injury and had to limp off after trying to continue, this left the Ladies down to ten players.

After a disapointing start AFC Sudbury can take some great heart after a superb second half that certainly had Norwich thinking.

The Ladies are desperate for a goalkeeper, if anyone knows of a keeper looking to play at a decent level of football please contact Manager Clive Golding.

Next up for Ladies next Sunday away to Cambridge Reserves.