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With David Williams unavailable for Friday's rearranged visit to Arsenal due to a family bereavement, City's Academy Under-18 side were in the very capable hands of former Cambridge United assistant manager Dale Brooks, who has in recent weeks been doing some work for the Norwich Academy. It appears that Brooks has been having a good influence on the squad as they came away from London Colney with a very creditable point; indeed most would agree that The Gunners were let off the hook as The Canaries produced one of their best performances of the entire season. With Michael Spillane away on International duty there was a welcome back from injury to Nicky Howell who slotted into a five-man midfield with again Chris Martin the lone front-man. Right from the kick off City took the game to the home side with Lee Howlett trying his luck from the edge of the box, although the shot was saved comfortably by Michael Jordon in the Arsenal goal. |
 City goalscorer Chris Martin in the thick of the action |
 Olly Willis, who made a great run to set up City's equaliser |
Next it was the turn of Olly Willis to be denied by Jordon, this coming after some good build up play from Andrew Cave-Brown. City were well in control of the game with Howlett in particular looking solid in the middle of the park. Cave-Brown, as ever, was getting forward at every opportunity and he combined well with Howell to set up Robert Eagle, whose shot was again saved by Jordon. Such was City's dominance of the half that it was not until almost injury-time that Arsenal threatened the City goal when Nikalas Bendtner curled a shot wide of Joe Lewis goal. Shortly into the second half and Arsenal wasted what was up until now the best chance of the game when Issa Kadir scooped the ball over from just a couple of yards. |
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Martin was causing the Gunners defence all sorts of problems and a clever through ball from the Beccles schoolboy found Howell whose shot was save by the outstretched leg of Jordon. With 72 minutes on the clock City found themselves a goal adrift when, with a little help from a slight deflection, Jay Simpson fired the ball past Lewis from the edge of the box. City's reply was for Martin to force Jordon into another save, but there was little The Gunners keeper could do with City's equalising goal on 79 minutes. A dazzling run down the right flank by Willis saw him send in a pin point cross that Martin climbed up to head down under Jordon and into the back of the net. |
 Andrew Cave-Brown side-foots the ball away |
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City might have taken all three points when Howell went close in injury time and Arsenal were fortunate to escape with almost the final kick of the game when, with ball bouncing about the six-yard box, they somehow managed to hoof the ball clear. City Line-Up: Lewis, Cave-Brown, Jarvis, Gusterson, Halliday, Howlett, Willis, Howell, Martin, Bexfield [El Ouargui 61], Eagle. Sub Not Used: Herbert, Smart. Top Canary: Chris Martin. It was a bad day at the office for City's Under-16's as they went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of their Arsenal counterparts. City's only goal came via an own-goal. |
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Further Action From The Match
Could this be a young Patrick Viera marking Asmat El Ouargui?
Robert Eagle played in a five-man midfield
Lee Howlett pushed Chris Martin all the way for the Man of the Match nomination
City striker Asmat El Ouargui came on as a second-half substitute
Academy supporter Michael 'Felix' Fields (pictured right) added yet another new ground to his travels as he visits Arsenal's training ground at London Colney. The pitch is named after former Gunners favourite George Armstrong.
Report and Photos from John Landamore.
