A Sharon Brownlie brace set City on their way, eventually cruising into the second round at a wet and windswept Blofield Park on Sunday.

City started strong, Rachel Armstrong making an immediate impact down the wing linking up well with the strikers. Emma Ridings was close to putting City in the lead with a shot that was just wide of the goal before an inch perfect Leanne Stubbings cross was met by the head of Kerri Binks which gave the keeper no chance.

City, who dominated the first half, had further shots on target Armstrong's effort went just wide of the goal and McLaughlin's was caught by the quick thinking keeper. The home keeper had to be alert to parry an Armstrong shot before denying Ridings, moments later with Sarah Jolly shooting wide from the rebound and  Armstrong nearly capped her second appearance with a goal but her crisply struck shot hit the post.

Kerri Binks almost grabbed a second after Shelley Haslam was upended but her 35 yard free kick was saved by the keeper.

City’s dominance was rewarded a short time later with Armstrong linking up with McLaughlin whose through ball was latched onto byRidings who calmly went round the covering defenders before firing home.

City kept up the pressure in the second half with early pressure, Armstrong had another shot just wide of the post after linking up well with Brownlie. Jolly and Ridings who constantly terrorised the defence had an effort each which were caught by the keeper before. Norwich had a brief attacking spell but City were composed and the defence of Stubbings, Binks, Pavett and Wheate were unfazed.

 City continued to dominate and another well worked set piece from a Stubbings corner and Claire Pavett's fierce header rattled the bar. Before, moments later, Brownlie also had her shot denied by the bar.

Ridings did well on the break to force a corner which Stubbings drilled in a packed area which was met by Brownlie who rose above the defence to header into the back of the net.

Still going forward in search of goals, Armstrong had a shot on goal saved by the keeper before Letitia Cleary came off the bench and was immediately involved with a shot on goal which was saved by the keeper. Further chances fell to Brownlie, Pavett and Jolly however all were denied by the overworked home keeper.      

City made a further change with Kayleigh Franklin coming on for the influential Armstrong and the lead was increased when Ridings took possession of the ball, ran inside the box, took it past 2 defenders before squaring to Brownlie who calmly found the top right hand corner.

Franklin had a shot go inches wide of the goal and Jolly was flagged offside when through on goal before the home side nearly pulled a goal back but Kira Lewis,making her debut in the City goal, dealt with ease.

With the tie already safe, added two more late goals, a flowing move involving Pavett, Ridings and Brownlie saw McLaughlin finish by shrugging off the attentions of a defender and slot the ball past the goalkeeper into the back of the net..

With the clock ticking down, City’s final attack saw Pavett playing a ball through to Jolly who lobbed the keeper from just outside the box to net her sides sixth..

Match in focus 

  Chelmsford City: Lewis, Stubbings, Binks, Pavett, Wheate (Vernon), Armstrong (Franklin), McLaughlin, Brownlie, Haslam (Cleary), Ridings, Jolly. Sub not used: Parker.

Player of the Match: Sharon Brownlie

  Manager Clare Andrews commented after the game, ‘Another fantastic team performance with well worked set pieces and some great passing football by the team. All the hard work in Wednesdays training session was evident on the pitch today. Also, congratulations to our hard working coach Sharon Brownlie who has secured her Level 3 coaching certificate this week which she topped today with two fine goals’.