Positive signs from City Women

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0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Head coach Perry Northeast believes Norwich City Women are making swift progress after holding in-form Stoke City to a 1-1 draw in Sunday's frenetic WNL Northern Premier clash at The Nest.

The Canaries’ chief saw his side fight back for the second game running, courtesy of Holly Kennard drilling home an emphatic strike to cancel out Shannon Stamps’ first-half opener, for her second goal of the league season.

City committed players forward in search of a winner only to be caught short at the back and bailed out by a superb 94th-minute goalline clearance by skipper Grace Riglar.

“It was a very good game because from minute one it was two teams looking to attack and gain three points, executing a pressing style of play without the ball,” said Northeast.

“We feel as though we could’ve taken away three points, but Stoke probably felt the same. We were putting in good deliveries but at the same time they defended their box very well.

“What was pleasing was we were able to find some solutions, break at the right times. I was much happier this week in how we played out (from the back).”

It marked an improved first-half performance having gone into the break 2-0 down to Boldmere St Michaels a week prior.

Stoke had reason to back themselves as the favourites, heading into the game third in the table off the back of three wins in their opening four league outings.

The match had been set to take place at Carrow Road before the re-scheduled Championship meeting with Bolton for Philippe Clement's squad.

But Northeast noted the role played by the home supporters irrespective of venue, buoying his team on to a valuable point against a side that has competed in the third tier since 2014.

“The fans really get behind the team here," he said. "You can really feel they’re in the game as well as the players. Sometimes they feel a bit nervy when we’re playing with the ball at the back, but equally you can hear them when we’re in break moments.

“The players - you can tell - love playing for the crowd, and that’s quite unique. A lot are from the area and they’ve really got to know the fans. There’s such a passion both ways, it helps us in really competitive games like this one”

Kennard and Riglar were integral to Norwich’s promotion last season, both entering double figures, while the latter reached 20 goals and finished as top scorer from centre back before being named 2025/26 player-of-the-season.

Freya Simmonds tussles for possession in Sunday's 1-1 league draw for Norwich City's Women against Stoke (Image: Richard Brown)

Full of praise for the 20-year-old was team-mate Freya Symonds, who was “proud of her for getting the goal” having impressed in the preparation leading up to Sunday’s clash.

“She’s young, got a lot to learn but she’s so amazing. You saw it last season with how many goals we scored,” said Symonds.

“Probably a different challenge season in terms of how we want to play, but she’s taking information really well. In training, she’s been absolutely excellent. She really deserves it.”

Northeast added that Riglar was “to be applauded” for the point-saving intervention, and believes the team will also capitalise on her threat from set pieces in a higher division.

“With respect to everything she’s done for the team, she’ll now be a bit more of a marked target. The shapes and structures that the opposition pose against us will mean we have to be even better from those moments.

“Hugh (McCluskie), our set piece coach, does a fantastic job of placing our players in the right positions and I’ve got no doubt we’ll finish many opportunities from those moments.

“It’s still a work in progress. We can take pride in the fact that we’ve taken a point against a very good side that have scored many goals this season. There’s an eagerness to turn these one-point games into three points.”