Norwich City Women 3 MK Dons 2
Norwich City head coach Andy Cook was pleased to progress in the Women's National League Plate, but is still looking for more consistency from his side.
The Canaries were good value for their victory over tier three outfit MK Dons and coped well without key players Ellie Smith and Natasha Snelling, who were left out ahead of the visit of promotion rivals Real Bedford.
Lara Densley led the line instead of Snelling and bagged an impressive brace, while midfielder Tamsin Medd-Gill also found the net for the second successive match.
Both of the visitors' goals were scored by Annaliese Jacovides in the latter stages of the contest, and Cook is keen for City to avoid giving opposition teams similar lifelines in future.
"MK came into the game at the end of that match and put us under a little bit of pressure," he said. "There are a few things that I want us to get better at.
"The fighting and the battling for the first and second ball was fantastic today. KK (Katie Knights) came back into the fold and was excellent.
"I thought she might be a bit leggy, but actually, we wanted to keep her on the field, and she deserved that, so that's why we gave her the full game.
"That first 60, 70 minutes from everyone, we battled for the ball, we battled for the second, we managed to play the areas.
"It was a good performance. We just need to make sure that we're consistent throughout 90, 95 minutes."
Young forward Densley's first two City goals were very well-taken; the opener saw her drill the ball home from 20 yards with her left boot, while the second was thundered past goalkeeper Anna Draper with her right.
When asked if she feels Snelling's role as City's first-choice striker could be under threat as a result of her accomplished display, Densley said: "No, I think the position's all Tash's.
"Stepping up into the role was obviously a big responsibility. I felt a lot of pressure going into it.
"Playing alongside Tash, I see how she plays, I see everything around (her) and I learn from her in training and in games, even just watching."
The prospect of Densley featuring more centrally for City in future matches was not ruled out by Cook, who was full of praise for the 18-year-old.
"Players have credit," he said. "They have credit through their experiences, where they've played, what they've done, and Lara's starting to build hers now.
"She's still only young, she's learning the game, learning different positions, and she's come in this season from Wroxham where she did brilliantly last year from the stats that I've seen and from speaking to people.
"Tash has got the experience, she's been around the game a lot, so it's one of those where she's got a lot of credit in the bank, Tash, and Lara's starting to gain hers.
"Performances like that will keep her in and around the thoughts and the processes and that's all we can ask of her.
"She was fantastic in the press and could have had a third when she hit the bar. She'll keep learning, keep developing, and she's got her feet on the ground. She's a very level-headed person and a very good talent to work with."
City boss Cook also discussed the relationship he has developed with Johannes Hoff Thorup following a positive weekend for the club and ahead of a crunch match with Leeds United on Tuesday evening.
He said: "The closeness that has come in since Johannes has come into the club, working with Ben (Knapper), and him and his staff.
"I work from the training ground, so we'll watch training (and) the staff come and speak to us. They know all about our results, obviously we know about theirs.
"The club at the moment is a fantastic place to work. As a Middlesbrough fan, and from Middlesbrough, I'd love Norwich to win that game and put one over Leeds."
Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Quantrill; Daviss (Tomlinson 90), Flye, Strauss, Moore; Knights, Medd-Gill (Johnston 90+6); Cook (Shaw 72), Hailes (Booty 85), Symonds (Kennard 63); Densley.
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