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City's Academy side slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat when Aston Villa ran out 3-1 winners at Colney on Saturday afternoon. The Canaries found themselves two goals adrift at the interval, both of which incredibly went down as own goals, and when they had defender Paul McLean sent off 20 minutes from full-time, to their credit they pulled a goal back only for Villa to restore their two goal advantage shortly after. The visitors dominated the opening few minutes of the game and they opened their account after just ten minutes when a near post corner from Barry Bannan struck a City defender before ending up in the back of the net. |
 The first own-goal goes in |
 The second own-goal goes in via the unlucky Alvin Quaye |
City almost drew level shortly after when Luke Daley picked out fellow strike partner Kris Renton who relayed the ball back to Bally Smart whose 20 yard effort was not far off target. Smart was showing some nice touches while Patrick Bexfield was working his socks off in the middle of the park. However, with 22 minutes on the clock Villa doubled their advantage when Shane Lowry got a touch on a free kick only for the unfortunate Alvin Quaye to turn the ball past Steve Arnold in the City goal. Into the second half and James Collins did well to tackle Daley after the City striker worked his way into a shooting position. |
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The Villa captain Danny Earls saw a shot go wide of the Canaries goal but with 70 minutes on the clock, McLean was given his marching orders with a straight red when he was deemed to be the last man after he brought down Nathan Delfouneso. With 15 minutes left on the clock, City pulled a goal back when Renton beat Stephen Henderson from a penalty spot but just two minutes later Villa restored their two goal advantage when Earls stabbed the ball under Arnold. Late in the game, City might have scored a second when Renton set up Daley only for Henderson to deny the City front-man with his outstretched leg. |
 Paul McLean has already gone as the rest of the team look on |
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City Line-Up: Arnold, Matthews, O'Toole, McLean, Quaye, Bexfield, Eames (Kelly 73), Lathrob, Renton, Daley, Smart. Subs not used: Muddel, Rudd, Byrne. Top Canary: Patrick Bexfield.
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 Bally Smart showed somw nice touches during the game |
 Close up of Damon Lathrope |
 Paul McLean who went on to see the red card |
 Kris Renton goes up for the ball |
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Match report from John Landamore and The Pink Un. Photos from John Landamore. |
 Luke Daley partnered Kris Renton up front |