After a fantastic start to the season, Actonians headed to Norfolk on Sunday (12 November 2024) as leaders of the division, a point above the Canaries who had started the campaign as one of the title favourites.
Last season, the East Anglian club had routed the A’s 5-1 home and away as they finished runners-up to AFC Wimbledon and they’d also won 2-0 just three weeks before when the sides last met in an FAWNL Plate match.
The challenge facing Ollie Yazdi’s team was therefore considerable but with Norwich having only drawn their last four league games, there was a glimmer of hope.
With Merle Redhead Ling swapping places with Olianna Bishop, who started on the bench, Actonians made only one change from the team which started at Oxford United the week before.
After observing a minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday, the action got underway.
Shannon Shaw had a chance for the hosts in the opening minute but glanced a header just wide.
With that behind them, the A’s settled and in the ninth minute took the lead when a bad back pass was intercepted by Hana Lalani who placed a precise effort across the keeper into the far corner to stun the hundreds in attendance.
The next 20 minutes saw Norwich try to find an equaliser but a defence well marshalled by captain Mara Bramwell limited their chances.
However, with the half-hour mark approaching, a corner wasn’t dealt with and Eloise Morran scored from close range to make it 1-1.
The travelling support must have feared the worst but their spirits were soon lifted again.
One of the hallmarks of this Actonians team is resilience and just two minutes after conceding, Dior Knorr’s cross was coolly turned in on the turn by Amina Hanif at the far post to make it 2-1.
There was a scare for the visitors shortly before the break when Holly Kennard nicked the ball off goalkeeper Elisa Dogor to score but the assistant said she had dispossessed her illegally and it was ruled out.
Buoyed to be ahead at the interval, Yazdi and his team knew a big 45 minutes lay ahead of them.
After a bright start with Lalani and Knorr having a few half chances, Norwich began to take control.
Kennard continued to pose the main threat for Norwich and hit the bar in the 58th minute with Natasha Snelling sending the rebound over the top.
Most of this season’s success has been built on a fulcrum of solid defence and with players in every position getting in tackles and working hard, Norwich had plenty of possession but created relatively little.
Substitute Freya Simmonds went close for the hosts with a free-kick in the 78th minute but that was about the last clear-cut chance despite a lengthy period of stoppage time.
The final whistle brought scenes of great celebration as Actonians inflicted Norwich’s first home defeat since February 2023, a result which moved them two points clear at the top with Real Bedford now second after their 7-1 win at London Seaward.
Next up Actonians welcome Middlesex rivals Ashford Town to Rectory Park (Middlesex FA HQ) UB5 5FA on 17 November 2024 2pm kick off. Tickets are £5/U16 foc (cash only on the gate).
 afternoon, a fixture that has seen some very close outcomes in recent times, not least two seasons ago when both sides battled until the end of the campaign for third place.){kind=link}