Match Report: Progression In The Plate For Resilient Norton
Norton & Stockton Ancients vs Doncaster Rovers Belles
Report By Jordan Clarke
Norton & Stockton Ancients booked their place in the next round of the FAWNL Plate with a resilient victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Chris Burton named a handful of changes to the side that narrowly lost out against York last time out, with Kate McGuire and Cara Milne-Redhead making their first starts of the season, alongside Shannon Reed who returned to the starting 11. New signing Annie Mitchell was named on the bench after joining the club following time at Sunderland and Teesside RTC.
An end-to-end start to the game saw both sides create good opportunities, the best of which falling to the visitors in the 19th minute when a free-kick was played short and fired towards goal, bouncing off the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.
Mere seconds later, Norton hit the woodwork themselves when Bianca Owens twisted and turned to find space inside the box, but her eventual effort powered back off the post and was cleared by Doncaster.
Half Time: Norton & Stockton Ancients 0-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles
After a reasonably quiet opening hour, the visitors found the target first when Ruby Barnes headed home a cross from Hannah McWilliams on the left-wing.
Louise Atkinson quickly responded by firing a strike beyond the goalkeeper, but the assistant referee was quick to raise his flag for an offside offence.
In the 69th minute, Norton found a legal equaliser when a weak clearance fell to the feet of Bianca Owens who showcased her fantastic footwork, and eventually guiding a left-footed strike past the goalkeeper.
But less than two minutes later, Doncaster retook the lead as Hannah McWilliams again fizzed a ball across the box which Jess Tugby-Andrews sneaked past Kelsie Moore.
After 78 minutes, it was all-square once again when Louise Atkinson played a pass into Bianca Owens, who took on a number of red shirts before firing low into the bottom corner.
But despite a further spell of Norton pressure, it was the visitors who found a third goal when Jasmine Saxton headed home a corner in the 83rd minute.
With less than a minute left of normal time, Norton skipper Bianca Owens secured her hat-trick after being found again inside the box by Louise Atkinson, with the striker taking her time to create the space and finding the bottom corner with a lovely finish to send the tie to extra time.
Full Time: Norton & Stockton Ancients 3-3 Doncaster Rovers Belles
After an encouraging opening to extra time for the hosts, they found a lead deep into first half stoppage time when Louise Atkinson held off a trailing defender and seeing her deflected shot fall into the path of debutant Annie Mitchell who fired high into the net.
Half Time (ET) : Norton & Stockton 4-3 Doncaster Rovers Belles
Five minutes into the second half of the extra period, the advantage was doubled when a perfect Chloe West corner was met by the head of Bianca Owens who made no mistake in finding the target, with the help of the underside of the crossbar.
Full Time (AET) : Norton & Stockton Ancients 5-3 Doncaster Rovers Belles
Goal Scorers: Bianca Owens x4, Annie Mitchell
Player of the Match: Bianca Owens
Norton & Stockton Ancients: Kelsie Moore, Kate McGuire (Ash Coyle 70’), Georgia Rae, Vicki Burton, Lucy Jamieson (Annaleigh Wynn 98’), Chloe West, Shannon Reed (Danielle Nanga 70’), Cara Milne-Redhead, Louise Atkinson, Bianca Owens (C), Eve Marshall (Annie Mitchell 70’)
Norton are now set for a trip to Division One Midlands leaders Loughborough Lightning in the next round of the competition on Sunday 29th September, but first return their focus to the league with a trip to AFC Fylde scheduled next weekend