Norwich at The Wellington Sports Ground
Norwich missed chances to sew up the game for themselves in the second-half and just as it seemed the match was heading for a draw, a late goal for Pompey four minutes from time secured the points for the hosts.
Norwich had a fair share of the first half, and took only six minutes to test the Portsmouth goalkeeper Nick Jordan. A free kick from Korey Smith was spilled by the Portsmouth goalkeeper, but he eventually reclaimed the loose ball.
On twenty four minutes another flourishing move from midfield, saw Ross Kelly shoot from twenty five yards with ball going just wide of the post.
On thirty nine minutes City produced their best effort so far. Korey Smith from midfield played the ball into the advancing Michal Spillane, whose thunderous shot from a good distance out was matched with a superb save from Nick Jordan tipping the ball over the crossbar.
At the other end of the field, the centre backs pairing of Paul McLean and Tom Miller seem to be forming a good relationship at the heart of defence and were keeping the threat of Portsmouth livewires Cowan Hall and Louie Castles at bay. With this in place Declan Rudd was rarely troubled.
On forty four minutes Norwich opened the scoring, which was more than deserved. After a good move Ross Kelly struck the ball goalwards with Nick Jordan saving, but as the ball looped up Korey Smith followed up and headed into the net.
As the second half got under way, Portsmouth came out firing on all cylinders. On forty eight minutes a left wing cross from Matt Richie, was met cleanly by Cowan Hall, who forced Declan Rudd to perform a reflex save to his near right post to keep the ball out.
After pressure, Norwich finally conceded the Portsmouth equaliser. Another left wing cross on the hour caught Norwich in two minds as Louie Castle stole in to net into the low corner.
On sixty five minutes, following a throw in on the right side, Danny Kelly, moved the ball forward and unleashed an unstoppable thirty yard strike, destined to the goalkeepers top right hand corner, but the shot hit the post and rebounded back into play, much to Danny's disbelief.
Norwich then had further chances to wrap up the points up.
Bally Smart played into Danny Kelly in the Portsmouth penalty area, but his shot went agonizingly wide, then Luke Daly followed was in on goal, but thwarted by the last line of defence.
Norwich paid the price for the missed chances on eighty six minutes. A quick thinking attack by Portsmouth along the right flank saw a ball delivered into the Norwich penalty area and there was the lurking Louie Castles to sweep the ball past Declan Rudd for the winner to sink the visitors.
The match was fast and furious, with plenty of good action from end to end, and a credit to the FA Academy League.
City Line-Up: Rudd, Adeyemi (Richardson 69), Habergham, Spillane (Stphens 83), McLean, Miller, R. Kelly, Smith, D. Kelly, Daley, Smart.