With the distraction of the cup now well out the way, attentions could turn back to the league – with the sole intention of climbing up the championship ladder and battling for promotion.
The next round of games laid down a clear marker of the Canaries’ intentions. Three wins and a draw saw the team in yellow propel themselves even further up the table, with automatic promotion now a real possibility. A comfortable 3-0 victory against Manchester City was followed by statement wins against fellow promotion contenders WBA Dudley and Muscle Warriors PFC. A clean sweep of victories was only denied by the ever-stubborn Villa Rockets, who held Norwich to a frustrating 1-1 draw.
Now, with only two rounds of fixtures left of the regular season, every point was pivotal in the Canaries’ promotion push. The penultimate set of games didn’t make it easy for our Powerchair promotion hopefuls – with City lining up against second-placed Middlesbrough and cup-rivals Villa, as well as tough games against Manchester City, Leeds Dynamo and Muscle Warriors.
Villa rubbed salt in the wounds of our City players in the opening game, completing an unbeaten treble against the Canaries as the team in claret and blue claimed a 1-0 victory. Norwich responded well with a 3-0 win against relegation-threatened Manchester City before falling to a 1-0 defeat against a strong Middlesbrough side. Two draws against Leeds and Muscle Warriors ensured that the Canaries’s fate would be decided in the final game week.
Heading into their final four fixtures, automatic promotion was still on the cards, although chances were admittedly slim. Middlesbrough were current occupants of the final automatic spot, with league leaders Greenbank home and dry after an incredibly impressive league campaign. City sat in sixth, with four to play.
The chasing pack alongside City consisted of, Leeds, WBA, Muscle Warriors and Villa Rockets, with the Canaries knowing that only four straight victories and a Middlesbrough slip-up would see them snatch second place and a place in the WFA Premiership.
City’s first match was a relatively routine affair – a 3-0 victory over Sale United set the team up nicely for the final push.
The team were made to work hard in the next game, as the Canaries held on to clinch a 1-0 win over relegated AFC Bournemouth.
A sensational 7-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, combined with slip ups in the Leeds and WBA games, left the Canaries on the brink of, at the very least, securing third place and the playoff position.
With final opponents Teeside Steel guaranteed championship safety and with nothing to play for, all the pressure was on Norwich to deliver when it mattered and finish the season with success.
Teeside proved to be a stubborn opponent – difficult to break down and well-organised throughout. In the end, a single goal decided it, confirming Norwich’s place in the WFA Playoffs.
The 100% record in the final four games also saw City man Mike Coleman win player of the round for both his outstanding individual performances and his role in ensuring the team not only secured third place, but did so in the final game week without conceding a single goal.
The Canaries now have a chance to put themselves back in the top flight of English Powerchair football, a division they haven’t played in since their relegation in 2014. On the 13th July, the team will have the chance to decide their own fate, in a one-off match against Nomad Knights.
Irrespective of next month’s result, it’s been a season to be proud of for our Norwich City Powerchair team, who put behind an indifferent start to the season to rise up the division and finish just shy of automatic promotion, scoring 46 goals across all competitions.
Everyone involved with the Powerchair team would like to thank official partner Bateman Groundworks for their continued support of the team.
Check out the team’s full results here.