Fans will remember the drama and excitement in last years F A Youth Cup run with two penalty shoot outs, one against Stoke City at Carrow Road and the other against Everton at Widnes. Well Ricky Martin’s lads are at it again, this time they needed a penalty shoot out to progress into the next round after they overcame a determined Dulwich Hamlet on Wednesday night. For the Canary faithful who made the trip down and the Capitals who turned out for the game, it meant a late late night with the game not finishing until 10:30, by which time Torquay had overcome VT FC of Southampton after extra time leaving the Canaries with a trip to the English Rivera later this month (18th November, 7.30pm). Three key figures were missing from the City line up with David Stephens and Josh Dawkin away on Welsh international duty while George Francomb is still sidelined with the thigh strain he picked up when he made his home debut for the first team against Swindon Town last month. In last year’s run that saw City go all the way to the quarter final Declan Rudd was on more than one occasion the hero of the hour and it was his replacement Jed Steer who was called into action first to produce a good save to deny Todd Whittle as the home side put Norwich under some early pressure. The pitch left a lot to be desired and it was clearly not to City’s liking but slowly they started to get on top and went close with a long range effort from Patrick Drmola, and then with 32 minutes on the clock they made the breakthrough when Drmola flicked the ball on for strike partner David Nwaogu to finally head over the line after Hamlet keeper Adam Molley blocked the initial effort. City might have made it two moments later when Matthew Ball saw an effort come back off the upright. City continued to push forward after the break and both Ryan Oakley and Remy Gordon had shots saved by Molley. With 75 minutes on the clock the home crowd were up off their feet when Hamlet pulled level when Carl Konadu was put clear before slotting the ball past Steer. Both teams might have had a winner late in the game with Tyree Clarke having a shot saved and then Nyren Clunis sending a shot across the Canaries goal that saw Steer scampering across his goal line. Into extra time and chances were few and far between but for City Clarke might have done better with a header that he sent wide of the target and then in the dying seconds Steer pulled off a tremendous save to deny Clunis. On to penalties and captain Sam Habergham converted his and when Steer saved the first of the Hamlet penalties City were in the driving seat. With Drmola and Dario Dumic also converting and Hamlet missing one of theirs it was Ball who fired City into the next round, sparking wild on pitch celebrations from the team. Full credit to the home team who on another night might have won the tie, and full credit to Dulwich Hamlet who made us all very welcome. City Line-Up: Steer, Brindley, Gordon (A.Stephens 110), Osemwegie, Dumic, Habergham, Clarke, Ball, Nwaogu (Roberts 110), Drmola, Oakley. Subs not used: Matthews, S.Kelly, Jones. Dulwich Line-Up: Molley, Dadzie, Odedina, Wilson-Joseph, Roberts (Botwe 90), Awokunle, Clunis, Solomon, Odiaka, Whittle (McFarlane 72), Konadu (Campbell 111). Subs not used: Adesanya, Gonsalves. Top Canary: Sam Habergham. Referee: Neil Baker. Attendance: 112. For a full selection of excellent photos from the match please visit Richard Phillips match gallery at www.photozonline.co.uk

Report courtesy of John Landamore, Photo courtesy of Richard Phillips.