Had a hand in both goals - Chris Martin

Those hardy fans and parents that made the six-hour trip up to Burnley on Tuesday night were well rewarded with a game that had almost everything, most of it coming in extra time, but the most important thing was that David Williams' young side came away with the win with two goals coming inside the final five minutes. It was always going to be a difficult tie for the Canaries with two or three key players out through suspension or injury, forcing Williams to field a starting eleven that included five schoolboys. Particularly new at this level were Patrick Bexfield, who made his first appearance at this level against West Ham on Saturday, and Bally Smart who was making his debut for the Under-18's. Against them was a Burnley side that top their league and who had all scholars in the starting line up. City took the game to the home side in the opening minutes forcing three quick corners, but it was from a quick break out of defence after fifteen minutes that they almost opened the scoring. Chris Martin and Michael Spillane combined well for Spillane to try his luck from the edge of the box with a shot that struck the upright. Moments later City did find the net when Martin fired the ball home after The Clarets keeper dropped the ball, however Referee Mr. Hemingway had already blown for a foul on the keeper.

Although City had the better of the earlier exchanges, Burnley came more into the game as the half progressed and Martin Reilly saw a glancing header go just wide of the City goal. That was pretty much the story of the first-half and it continued in much the same vein after the break, although on the hour mark it was Burnley's turn to be denied by the woodwork when a shot across goal from Marc Pugh struck the post before Lee Howlett quickly cleared the loose ball. Pugh was denied moments later when Joe Lewis tipped a rising free kick over the bar. With the game tied at 90 minutes there was a further fifteen minutes each way of extra time, but Burnley needed only five of those minutes to break the deadlock, although it has to be said that the indirect free-kick on the penalty spot awarded by Mr. Hemingway was indeed harsh. Nevertheless when the ball was rolled to Neal Trotman he blasted the ball in off the post.

City to their credit continued to push forward, although there was a lighter side to the game before the dramatic climax when Mr. Hemingway, who had not endeared himself to either set of supporters, received a huge cheer when he tried to trap the ball in his midriff but failed, painfully. Then with just five minutes left of the 120, City hit back when the hard-working Martin ran onto a through ball to calmly side-foot home. It looked to everyone that the game would have to be decided on penalties, but with just two minutes left the Canary faithful were rewarded with a late, late winner. Martin was again involved when he broke out of defence to feed Seb Muddel who went on to beat his man down the right flank before sending over a low cross that was met by substitute Asmat El Ouargui sliding in at the far post. It was memorable victory for The Canaries who now face a trip to St. Marys in Janaury to face Southampton. City Line-Up: Lewis, Cave-Brown, Eagle, Jarvis, Halliday, Howlett, Muddel, Bexfield (El Ouargui, 85 min), Martin, Spillane, Smart (A Howell, 120 min). Subs Not Used: Herbert, S Willis.

Asmat El Ouargui

Report from John Landamore.