When the fixtures came out last month, an opening day trip to title contenders Norwich was not what most associated with the A’s would have wanted.

However, with a 2-1 win achieved at The Nest in the corresponding game last season, it was not a foregone conclusion.

Come the day of the game though, the team headed to Norfolk with a number of key players, including captain Mara Bramwell, unavailable.

Elisa Dogor, beginning her third season with the first team, started in goal behind a defence of Olianna Bishop, Jennie Brereton, Lois Colley and Jasmine Williamson.

Ahead of them, there were debuts for Kayra Karakus, Emma Walpole, Claudia Cholakian and Abigail Kargbo. Whilst Molly O’Reilly and last season's top scorer Hana Lalani completed the line-up.

With the hosts affiliated to a big EFL club and having way more resources available to them, the opening quarter was competitive with Actonians containing the hosts well.

Then with 23 minutes on the clock, there was a moment of huge controversy.

A loose ball found its way to left back Ellie Bishop who cut inside and fired a fine effort off the underside of the bar but without hesitation the assistant referee decided it had crossed the line and flagged for the goal.

However, post game Norwich fan footage showed fairly clearly that it did not cross the line.

Rather than go into their shells, the A’s upped their game and almost equalised when Lalani’s pass found O’Reilly well placed on the left but her effort flew over.

Cholakian then sent a header across goal towards Bishop and Colley but the two got in each other's way and it went over the bar - thankfully the flag went up for offside so it wouldn't have counted anyway.

A Walpole corner shortly before half-time caused problems but Norwich’s defence were able scramble it away.

Only a goal down at the interval, things were going better than some had feared.

With the second half only seconds old, the Canaries almost got a second when their tall midfielder Freya Symonds went close from just outside the box.

Five minutes later, the second goal arrived.

The A’s seemed to have thwarted the hosts’ latest attack but under little pressure, Dogor got her clearance wrong and midfielder Holly Kennard fired home from 25 yards.

From this point Actonians rarely threatened as a damage limitation exercise began.

Pressure was successfully soaked up for 20 minutes before Brereton got in a tangle with striker Natasha Snelling.

With the A’s captain the last defender, the referee wasted little time before brandishing a red card.

Further late goals from Snelling and new signing Grace Riglar (penalty) wrapped up a 4-0 win for Andy Cook’s team.

With other sides in the division conceding even more goals, and Actonians’ squad set to strengthen over the next week or two, there's still plenty to be hopeful about.

Next up, a trip to Maidenhead United on Wednesday for the A’s first game in the group stage of the League Cup.

POTM - Olianna Bishop. Returning to the club after a few months away, she played her part in thwarting numerous Norwich attacks and got forward well when she could.

Written by James Doe