FORTRESS COLNEY City’s Academy side maintained their 100% home record with a 3- win over Portsmouth. The talking point prior to the game was the news that George Francomb - following his debut in the cup game midweek - had maintained his first team place for the league game at Carlisle. This saw Sam Habergham pull on the captains arm band as he lined up in central defence along side Dario Dumic. Also in the starting line were Josh Dawkin who made his first team debut at Gillingham midweek and Danny Kelly who was an unused substitute in the cup. Ricky Martin urged his side for good tempo as they took the game to the visitors in the opening minutes with Johnbull Osemwegie sending a header over the crossbar. Norwich were enjoying the greater possession and Tommy Smith in the Pompey goal made comfortable saves from Dawkin and Dumic. With 30 minutes on the clock the Canaries were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box when Ryan Oakley was dragged back and from the free kick Dumic curled a delightful effort beyond Smith. Norwich were receiving warm applause from the Colney faithful with some neat passing football and one such move just before the break saw Kelly providing the cross for Oakley but his volley was collected by Smith. City needed less than 60 seconds to extend their lead after the break when Kelly chested down a cross in the area before turning his marker and firing the ball past Smith. Norwich were in the driving seat and went all out for a third and they went close through Dawkin after he collected a cross from Richard Brindley, but the Welsh international couldn’t get his shot on target. On a rare Portsmouth attack Ellis Martin saw a shot deflected wide of Peter Loveday’s goal, but with 74 minutes on the clock they pulled a goal back when from a corner Perry Ryan was unmarked at the far post to head home. It signalled some anxious moments for the Norwich defence but they were marshalled well by Habergham and Dumic, and they confirmed all three points with four minutes left on the clock when Tyree Clarke did well to cross from the left and when Pompey failed to clear the danger Dawkin sent in an unstoppable shot to maintain their 100% record at Fortress Colney. City Line-Up: Loveday, Brindley, Gordon [A. Stephens 88], Osemwegie, Dumic, Habergham, Clarke, Ball [Drmola 68], Kelly, Oakley [Nwaogu 68] Dawkin. Subs Not Used: Matthews, S.Kelly. Portsmouth Line-Up: T.Smith, Gregory, Martin, Stockford, Ryan, Wilkinson, Walsh [Cuvelier 60], M.Smith [Seeley 85], Ciftci, Goddard, Navas [Gazet 76]. Subs Not Used: O'Brien, Bennett. Norwich City Man of the Match: Dario Dumic. Norwich City U16s continued their recent good form with a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth with goals from Phil Roberts and John Popoola.

Report and Photos courtesy of John Landamore.