Manchester City, the current holders of the Football Association Youth Cup advanced into the Semi Finals of the competition sponsored by E-on, at The City Of Manchester Stadium, by the narrowest of margins, with a nineteenth minute goal, that settled this Sixth Round Tie, and extinguished Norwich's dreams, with the unfortunate and inconsolable Nick Davey unable to convert from a late awarded penalty. Manchester City who have remained unbeaten all season and top the Premier Academy League Group C, were almost stunned as early as the second minute when Dario Dumic glanced a header over at the near post. From that moment on Norwich found themselves under sustained home pressure, and Norwich had to defend rigorously, especially through David Stephens and Dario Dumic. But on nineteen minutes Robert Mak latched onto a through ball, just inside the penalty area, which eluded the Norwich moorings, and his executants of the ball, along the dampened turf was enough to net pass Declan Rudd. Manchester City by now, were playing in front of an audience of 3,254 with their industrious efforts to induce entertainment. But Norwich found Declan Rudd in fine form, when on thirty three minutes he produced a top notch save after the pace of Alex Nimely sent Christopher Chantler away, and with the latter shooting for goal, Declan Rudd sprung himself to his left to parry the ball away. Norwich then had a little spell of their own, towards half time, and in this, forced a corner. Sam Habergham delivered the ball in at the near post, from the left side of the park, Nick Davey headed on, and there was Danny Kelly launching himself from the edge of the six yard area, to direct the ball, with his forehead, which would have just crept in under the crossbar only to be denied with a tremendous reflex save by Joe Clegg, the Manchester City goalkeeper. Norwich themselves, as the second half got under way looked much more settled and there was confidence flowing and were now a visible presence. Tom Adeyemi and Korey Smith were now getting forward from midfield….but the home defence remained water tight especially through Dedryk Boyata. Manchester City, however were now confined to breakaways as Dari Dumic found out, after previously being yellow carded in the first half, could have seen red, after shirt pulling, out wide left, which could have left Norwich playing out the remainder of the game with ten men, but referee Mr Webb, gave a fine lecture, again a learning curve in their careers, and Dario Dumic continued despite some strong disagreement and further barracking which continued from the stands. Ricky Martin, then replaced Johnbull Omoregie with Richard Brindley with fifteen minutes to play, and took over the right midfield berth, and made an immediate impact. With the glitter of the floodlights now shining, after an afternoon of drizzle had finally relented, through grey clouds, a rampaging run with the ball from the Norwich substitute with just around twelve or so minutes to the whistle, was delivered into the Manchester City penalty area, which reached Tom Adeyemi , only to have, whilst turning a defender to shoot, had his ankles taken away, and hit the ground. Referee Mr Webb duly pointed to the penalty spot. Was this Norwich's chance to take the game into extra time? Nick Davey stepped forward and skied the penalty kick over the crossbar with Joe Clegg rooted between the posts. The agony and the ecstasy of the Youth Cup was shown for all to see. As Norwich accepted the fact, this was not going to be their day, Manchester City swept forward, and Abdi Ibrahim on eighty five minutes, a distance of twenty five yards from goal, saw his dipping effort just, and only just, clear the Norwich crossbar. Manchester City were still pushing forward and when Alex Nimely, in the first minute of stoppage time sprinted away by stealing ground from Norwich's defence, and again Declan Rudd was more equal to the forwards fierce shot, destined for the 'keepers bottom left corner, by diving to his left to again, parry the ball away. With Mr Webb finally bringing an end to the game with a final blast of his whistle, after three minutes of stoppage time, it will be Manchester City who will now be facing Arsenal in the two legged Semi-Finals. The faces of the Norwich players, especially Declan Rudd, who covered his face with his jersey at the end, staff, their families and small band of supporters (bearing in mind the Seniors were playing at Blackpool the same afternoon) told it all…as they prepared for the long journey back to Norfolk, and surrounding areas. City Line-Up: Rudd , Francomb (Drmola 84.), Habergham, Smith, Dumic, Stephens, Omeregie (Brindley 76.), Adeyemi, Kelly, Davey, Dawkin. Subs not used: Steer, Clarke, Reeves. Top Canary: Dario Dumic.

Match Action

Match Report courtesy of Rob Maynard, photos from John Landamore.