The Hawks weren’t able to build on their win against the Canaries last weekend as they were eliminated from the Women’s FA Cup by Norwich City on Sunday at the Harlow Arena

The Hawks came out of the blocks the quickest as they looked for an early goal, but the visitors stood firm in defence. There was a penalty shout as Beth Chambers was brought down in the box, but the referee was quick to wave the shouts away before Norwich came forward for the first time with Olivia Billson clearing the danger. 

Harlow continued to dominate the play, but couldn’t find the breakthrough. A shot from the edge of the box was blocked before Chambers did well to get the ball down in the box, but Georgia Box’s shot was fired over the bar. As the first half continued, there was little between the two sides, before Norwich broke the deadlock in the 28th-minute. The Canaries had looked to score from a corner, but with the danger cleared to the middle of the park, Ellie Bishop fired an effort towards goal from distance, beating Zara Wickert on the line. 

Despite finding ourselves a goal down, the Hawks continued to dominate as they sought an equaliser. Billie Brooks looked to launch a free-kick into the box, but the set-piece was too far for Becky Shephard before a couple of corners were either over everyone’s head or cleared by the visitors. With 5-minutes of the first half to play, Nicole Farmer is looked to cross the ball into a dangerous area, but the ball was well collected by the keeper before Chambers fired just over the bar. The visitors teased a second in the 43rd minute as Freya Fuller found some space, but could over divert the ball over from close range, before she got the Canaries second. The luck of the bounce saw her run through on goal, but after an initial save from Wickert, she slotted home into an empty net. 

The Hawks made another fast start to the second half as they looked to get back into the game. Becky Shephard had the first chance of the half but her shot was deflected out for a corner, with the resulting set-piece from Chloe Bassett almost finding the back of the net. A couple of minutes later saw Davina Smith running through on goal, but a heavy touch took it safely into the hands of the keeper. 

Norwich looked to extend their lead as Freya Symonds fired an ambitious effort towards goal, but Wickert held on well. Harlow continued to push for a goal of their own, but after coming close a couple of times, they still found themselves 2-0 down. Shephard sent a cross across the face of goal, but it was just ahead of Chambers before an effort from Smith was just over the bar from the edge of the box and Bassett fed the ball to Shephard, who fired in another cross towards Chambers, but the wingers header was inches wide. 

The visitors had another chance to extend their lead as they looked to be through on goal, but Wickert held onto the ball magnificently. The Hawks had one of the best chances of the match to get on the scoresheet as Box went up for an acrobatic effort, but the effort was saved on the line before Bassett swung in a cross, but Brooks header was inches wide of the near post. 

Harlow dominated into the final 20-minutes as they pegged Norwich in their own half. Dionne Manning looked to be through, but the keeper cleared the ball before Chambers saw a cross also cleared by the away side. Therese Addison did well to win a free-kick on the edge of the box, but the set-piece was straight into the wall before the debutante found some space in the box and fired an effort towards goal, but the shot was inches wide. 

The Canaries looked to seal the win with a chance in the 85th-minute, but the effort was fired over before the Hawks came forward with a couple of minutes left to play. Addison cut inside and fired an effort, but the keeper pushed her effort behind for a corner, with the resulting set-piece headed just wide. Three added minutes were enough for the Hawks to reduce the deficit as the club were knocked out of the cup.