How to fit cowl panel smoothly?

Civic coupe vti 1999.

When fitting a cowl panel, as the bonnet was in the way, I really struggled to fit it in smoothly and instead forced/snapped it into place. In the process I believe I caused my windscreen to crack with the cowl panel hitting the lower edge of the windshield (Did this crack develop from cowl panel removal?).

I could have removed the bonnet then did the job which would have let the cowl fit smoothly. But I think it should be possible to fit the cowl smoothly without removing the bonnet.

Is there a right way to push the cowl into place without wrestling and smacking the windscreen as I did, if so how?

Thanks.