Debut goal for Brown sets Norton up for a win in their first pre-season fixture

Match Report: Redcar Town Ladies vs Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies

Although most of the young players had their first run out in a 14-1 victory over Hartlepool United Under 23s, for the majority of the players this was their first time back on the pitch in preparation for the 2023/24 season.

Our opponents, Redcar Town, currently play their football in Tier 5 so it was sure to be a good test for a mixed Norton squad.

Norton started with 3 debutants in the line-up; Sophie White who had made the step up from South Shields and Anna McArthur and Pippa Brown who both played for Teesside RTC and were getting their first taste of senior football.

Norton started the game the brighter of the two sides and it wasn’t long before Katie Ormerod danced past 5 players and drove into the box, before seeing her curling effort come back off the inside of the post.

It wasn’t long before Norton took a deserved lead. Katie Ormerod beat her player on the left and delivered a cross to Jade Featherstone. Featherstone laid it into the path of Pippa Brown and the youngster fired home at the near post to open not only her Norton account but also her senior football account.

Norton’s midfield three of Chloe West, Sophie White and Anna McArthur continued dominate the early exchanges and Norton were creating a lot of chances with both Maddie Myers and Katie Ormerod guilty of wasting some good opportunities.

Redcar were working hard to stay in the game and a bizarre 5 minutes saw the game completely flipped on its head. A long ball forward caught the Norton ‘keeper Hannah Helm in two minds whether to come or to retreat to her line. This allowed the Redcar forward to nip in and side foot home.

This gave the hosts a lift and they quickly went into the lead when a strike from fully 40 yards sailed over Hannah Helm’s head and into the back of the net.

Norton responded within 40 seconds. The kick off went back to Kate McGuire whose ball found Katie Ormerod. Ormerod played it inside to Sophie White who played a defence splitting pass to send Anna McArthur clear on goal. McArthur cleverly squared it across the face of goal and last season’s NERWFL top scorer Maddie Myers tapped home the equaliser.

Half Time

Redcar Town Ladies 2-2 Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies

Norton made 8 changes at half time with another debutant and the youngest player in the squad, Gabriella Place, coming into the centre of midfield for her first game in senior football after only turning 16 this week. Norton again started on the front foot and took the lead early when Katie Ormerod delivered a delightful cross and Brooke Slater was on hand to turn the ball home.

Norton continued to create chances with the best one falling to Sophie Hodgson.

Some great link up play between Pippa Brown and Maddie Myers saw the latter drive into the box before unselfishly squaring to Hodgson with only the ‘keeper to beat from six yards out, but her tame effort was turned round the post from the Redcar ‘keeper.

Norton extended their lead and it came via a corner. An inswinging corner bounced around the Redcar box and Katie Ormerod was on hand to fire home from close range.

The game began to stretch and Norton thought they had a fifth when Vicki Burton hit a curling effort from outside the box, but with the keeper beaten, it came back off the inside of the post.

The fifth did come and it again came via a corner. Another dangerous delivery to the front post was attacked by Brooke Slater and Sophie Hodgson but the final touch came off a Redcar defender and flew past a stranded Redcar goalkeeper.

Full Time

Redcar Town Ladies 2-5 Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies

Goal Scorers

Pippa Brown

Maddie Myers

Brooke Slater

Katie Ormerod

Own Goal

Player of the Match

Pippa Brown