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Despite the fact that they had to come from a goal behind against M.K. Dons, City's Academy side started their home campaign with a more than comfortable 4 - 2 victory at Colney on Saturday afternoon. Ricky Martin handed a first Academy start to Korey Smith, while defender Sam Habergham made the step from the U16's to make his first appearance at U18 level. It was not the best start to their home campaign as City found themselves a goal adrift after just two minutes when Daniel Powell raced clear of the City defence to slide the ball under Declan Rudd, although it did appear that the Dons striker was in an offside position. Moments later Powell found himself clear again although this time the City keeper was equal to his effort. Apart from the opening few minutes, City looked well in control of this game although the only opportunities they had were long range efforts from Damon Lathrope and Kris Renton. Renton might have opened City’s account with a header from a cross from Gareth Matthews, but Kurt Fox in the visitor’s goal was well placed to make the save. Fox however could to do little to prevent The Canaries drawing level on 34 minutes after some superb play by Luke Daley who beat 2 players down the right flank before picking out Lathrope who sent in a low shot into the corner beyond the outstretched keeper. Six minutes later City took the lead when Ross Kelly from a similar position again had Fox grasping at fresh air. Norwich were certainly in the driving seat with Daley causing the Dons defence all sorts of problems, and when on the stroke of half time he was brought down in the area the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and with the last kick of the half Renton converted the spot kick. The second half started in a similar vein to that of the first with Powell through on Rudd, however this time the City stopper made a good save. Habergham was clearly enjoying his first call up to the U18's as he received warm applause from the good size crowd with some solid defending. City extended their lead on 72 minutes when Renton was quick to seize a loose ball before beating Fox with an angled drive across goal into the far corner. Renton then had a glorious opportunity to record his hat trick when City were awarded a second penalty, however Fox had different ideas as he produced the save of the game to deny the City striker. Even then Renton might have scored his third moments later with a shot that Fox somehow managed to get his body behind, and he even managed to recover to deny Jordan Yong who fired in the rebound. City appeared to take their foot off the pedal in injury time allowing Liam Kelly all the time in the world to fire the ball past Rudd. All in all it was a solid performance from Norwich, although Ricky Martin and Darren Bloodworth will not have been pleased with the opening and closing minutes. City Line-Up: Rudd, Matthews [Davey 60], Habergham, Lathrope, McLean, D.Kelly, Daley, R.Kelly, Renton, Smith [O'Toole 67], Yong. Subs Not Used: Steer, Adeyemi, Stephens. Top Canary: Sam Habergham.
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Match report and photos from John Landamore. |
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