Defeat at Southend on Tuesday means that City Reserves have failed to qualify for the semi-final stages of the Pontins Holidays Combination Cup. Trailing Northampton Town by a single point, only a win at Roots Hall would have been enough to see them through to the final stages of the competition. Keith Webb saw his squad reduced to the bare bones at Southend with just one professional in the starting line up in the shape of Dean Sinclair. Goalkeeper Shane Herbert was named as an outfield sub and even the Reserves' physio Peter Shaw was named as a substitute. Tuesday's game marked the debut at Reserve team level for Andrew Fisk who now joins an elite band of schoolboys who have turned out for the City's second string. For the record the others are Lewis Blois, Rossi Jarvis, Adam Gusterson and of course Joe Lewis.

Andrew Fisk on his Reserve team debut

Matthew Halliday scores City's goal from a corner

Lewis, who kept a clean sheet for England U17 against Iceland last Friday, found himself picking the ball out of the net on two occasions inside the first 13 minutes. The first came after 12 minutes when Frankie Everett volleyed home from close range, while 60 seconds later Tesfaye Bramble raced onto a through ball before rounding Lewis to slot the ball home. Four minutes before the break, and after some great play from Fisk, Matthew Halliday pulled a goal back after he got a touch from a corner. After the break and City went close through Danny Crow and a 40-yard dipping shot from Lee Blackburn, while Lewis pulled off one of his trademark outstanding saves.

The Shrimpers put the game beyond City's reach seven minutes before full-time when substitute Tommy Byrne forced Lewis into another good save, but the ball fell kindly for the Southend striker who found the net with a well struck low shot from the tightest of angles. Norwich Line-Up: Lewis, Willis, Watts, Fisk [Howell 78], Halliday, Osborne, Blackburn, Howlett, Crow, Sinclair, Eagle. Subs Not Used: Herbert, Shaw.

Further Action From The Match
Former Canary Che Wilson	Dean Sinclair was the only professional
This header from Bramble failed to trouble Joe Lewis	Che Wilson keeps an eye on Robert Eagle
Olly Willis holds off Tesfaye Bramble	Robert Eagle
Matthew Halliday challenges with Tesfaye Bramble	Andrew Fisk
Report and Pictures courtesy of John Landamore.