City got their Academy season underway at Derby on Saturday with a comfortable win over The Rams, indeed the score line somewhat flattered the home side who could have conceded far more than the three goals that gave David Williams' side victory. Although Matthew Halliday was unavailable due to a thigh injury picked up in training while on the pre-season training camp in Denmark, it was a strong looking Canaries line-up with both Andrew Cave-Brown and Rossi Jarvis in the back four after both players had been involved with the first team during pre-season. City might have opened their account inside the first two minutes after a mix-up in the home defence allowed Asmat El Ouargui to fire in a low shot that flashed across the goalmouth.

Michael Spillane shows the way for Norwich

Two goal hero Asmat El Ouargui

Derby might have had an early goal themselves, but Paris Simmons blasted wide of Joe Lewis' goal. Incidentally Lewis was forced to play the game in his warm-up top after the referee refused to let either keeper play in their black strip, but while it was not a problem for the Derby keeper to change strip, City had only brought the one colour. During the opening minutes City had to withstand some tough but fair challenges from the home side, but stand up to it they did and on 30 minutes they opened the scoring with a move that was started and finished by Chris Martin. The City striker played a delightful cross-field pass to Seb Muddel who raced clear of his man before sending in a near-post cross that El Ouargui hit first time, only to see the ball cannon off the keeper's chest before finally ending up with Martin who kept his composure before lifting the ball into the back of the net.

Muddel was enjoying his roll down the right wing and moments after the goal he again turned provider, this time for captain Lee Howlett, but his header was tipped over the crossbar by Steven Cann in the Derby goal. Into the second half and Derby almost pulled level with a free-kick from Matt Richards that struck the City upright. Moments later it was the turn of Robert Eagle to be denied by the woodwork after the City winger produced a delightful one two with Martin before he jinked his way past the Derby defence only to see his shot hit the post. With 64 minutes on the clock City doubled their advantage when Martin fed the ball to Eagle who in turn laid the ball to El Ouargui who fired the ball home.

Andrew Fisk looked on top form in midfield

Just ten minutes later and City secured all three points with Martin and El Ouargui combining for the Great Dane to fire home his second and City's third. This was a good start to the season from the Under-18's, with plenty of eye catching performances across the park, with the back four in particular looking very solid. City Line-Up: Lewis, Cave-Brown, Jarvis, Gusterson, Spillane, Howlett, Muddel, Fisk, El Ouargui, Martin, Eagle. Subs Not Used: Quaye, Herbert, Bexfield, Smart, Eames. Top Canary: Michael Spillane.

Further Action From The Match
Asmat El Ouargui unsettled the Derby defence	Adam Gusterson missed very little in the air
Physio Rod Dyer takes Chris Martin off for treatment	A close-up of captain Lee Howlett
The travelling squad pictured with the new executive coach which will be used this year and is funded by FONCY
Report and Pictures are courtesy of John Landamore.