|
Nick Davey, a second-half substitute, secured all three points for Norwich with just six minutes remaining after a pulsating second-half in which Norwich overturned a goal deficit following an equaliser by Jordan Dowdican. On a perfect spring afternoon, it was Fulham that made the early running and they were unfortunate not to net with Declan Rudd relieved to see an angled drive fly just over the crossbar. Ross Kelly on nineteen minutes had the first real effort on the Fulham goal, when he picked the ball up in midfield before unleashing a shot which took a slight deflection for a corner. On twenty four minutes Norwich almost conceded when Lewis Smith connected with a right flank cross only for Declan Rudd to save superbly, parrying the ball over the crossbar. Norwich were still not getting the breaks as Fulham pressed forward with Danny Kelly and Sam Habergham in the thick of the defensive action. On twenty eight minutes the inevitable happened. A through ball into the Norwich penalty area was sensed by Declan Rudd, but as he came from his goal line to narrow the angle Alex Smith slotted the ball into the far corner to put Fulham ahead. The change in Norwich fortunes came when Tom Miller replaced David Stephens just before half time, after the Welsh Under-17 International sustained an injury. The robust midfielder Miller tuned the game on its head, with his tackling and fluent linking up play. Four minutes into the second half Norwich surprised Fulham. The build up started from defence and ended with Jordan Dowdican on the edge of the Fulham penalty area. The trialist swivelled to shoot past the outstretched arms of Neil Etheridge to level the scores. Norwich now looked more imposing going forward and on fifty seven minutes an angled header had to be cleared over the crossbar. Norwich kept the passing accurate, driving forward at every opportunity. Norwich had claims for a penalty when Luke Daley was clearly brought down, again the question was whether it was in or outside the penalty area. On eighty two minutes Norwich went into the lead. Mark O'Toole made inroads from the left and drilled the ball from distance, which the Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge initially did well to save, but the ball spilled from his grasp and Nick Davey hammered the rebound home from six yards. On eighty eight minutes, Norwich held their breath as they allowed Kii Bichard a free header in their penalty area following a cross from the left flank. With stoppage time being played, Norwich were reduced to ten men following Mark O'Toole's second bookable offence. Norwich survived a Fulham free kick just outside their penalty area following this decision before the Referee blew the final whistle. Norwich had clinched their third away victory, finishing as they had started on their travels this season - with three points. City Line-Up: Rudd, Cooper, O'Toole, Smith, Habergham, D. Kelly, Adeyemi (Richardson 61), Stephens (Miller 34), Dowdican (Davey 61), Daley, R. Kelly. Top Canary: Tom Miller. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Match report courtesy of Rob Maynard. Photos courtesy of Fulham FC Photographer Martin Goldthorpe. |
|