Norwich City Women 1 Brighton & Hove Albion Academy 0

Norwich City produced a determined display to knock a young Brighton & Hove Albion team out of the Women’s National League Plate at The Nest.

The FA have invited under-21 sides from professional clubs to compete in the Plate for the first time this season, but fourth tier City were more than a match for their opponents from Sussex.

Hope Strauss fired the Canaries in front in the 10th minute from the penalty spot after a Brighton defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.

Other than an early effort from Aisha Masaka, which was beaten away by Sarah Quantrill, City had few problems dealing with Brighton in the first period. The hosts impressed on the counter-attack, with good chances falling to Natasha Snelling and Lauren Hailes, but neither player managed to double their side’s lead.

Visiting forward Masaka is set to play in the Women’s Super League this season and she became more involved after the break but could not force the ball past Quantrill. A double stop from City’s goalkeeper on the hour mark was particularly impressive.

There were chances at both ends in the dying moments, but crucially, City clung on to book their place in the next round.

Norwich City: Quantrill, Medd-Gill, Flye, Strauss, Moore, Powell, Hailes, Densley, Smith, Kennard, Snelling. Subs: Locker, Johnston, Daviss, Symonds, Shaw, Cook, Booty.