Nick Davey in action against Stoke
(photo kindly provided by NCFC)
Declan Rudd was the toast of Norwich City Academy as he booked the Under-18s passage into the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup after they had to endure a tense and exciting climax in a penalty shoot out, against Stoke City. Declan saving the first two spot kicks, and then lashing home the all important fifth penalty kick to decide this Fourth Round tie, in the competition sponsored by E-on.
Neither side could break the deadlock in the regular ninety minutes, where Norwich hit Stoke's crossbar on two occasions, once in each half. They then took the lead four minutes into extra-time, allowing Stoke to equalise with just eight minutes remaining, to take the match into penalties.
With the under soil heating at Carrow Road making the pitch playable after the so called big freeze of recent days, it took time for the match to settle down.
Norwich City's first positive attack was on seventeen minutes when George Francomb delivered a cross from the right flank into the penalty area, which Stoke's goalkeeper, Thomas Harrison could not grasp, and the ball fell loose and bobbled amongst Norwich forwards, but they could not apply the finishing touch.
On twenty minutes, another George Francomb cross, again into the penalty area, was partially cleared, only to the feet of Joshua Dawkin whose downward shot went drastically wide.
Two minutes later Korey Smith and Danny Kelly were involved when the ball broke free inside the Stoke penalty area, and Nick Davey produced a magnificent shot, only to see the ball rattle the crossbar with Thomas Harrison well beaten.
Stoke were also showing signs of some good football in midfield where especially Nathaniel Wedderburn showed some glimpses of his desire to get Stoke moving in a forward direction.
Another attack from Norwich saw another shot coming in from Nick Davey, which was saved with ease.
The second half ended as Norwich finished the first, as they went all out to break the deadlock.
On sixty one minutes a Stoke error let in Danny Kelly, but with ample time he shot into the side netting from an angle. Moments later another opportunity fell to Kelly after Nick Davey had glanced the ball on. Again with time, he shot for goal, but Stoke dealt with it.
Seventy one minutes and Joshua Dawkin picked up the ball from an astray pass in midfield and sprinted forward, released the ball to Danny Kelly whose shot was well saved by Thomas Harrison. The shot was parried and Richard Brindley following up struck the ball wide.
Joshua Dawkin was seeing more of goal, and another chance for him went begging, this time wide of the far post.
On eighty minutes, Norwich were awarded a free kick, after Nick Davey was fouled, just outside the Stoke penalty area.Dario Dumic stepped up to flight the ball over the Stoke defenders only to thump against the angle of the crossbar.
Norwich should have put this tie well out of the reach of Stoke with the chances they had, but credit should be given to Stoke as they looked to fight all the way, as the game entered extra-time, with Declan Rudd noticeably having not to deal with a real effort all evening.
Norwich now had substitute Tyree Clarke on the park, and four minutes into the first period of Extra Time opened the scoring.
A neat build up between Tom Adeyemi, Danny Kelly, and Korey Smith, with the latter playing the ball to Tyree Clarke out on the right wing, who delivered the ball into the Stoke penalty area. Thomas Harrison had stopped all Norwich efforts all night, but the cross-come-shot appeared to baffle him, as the ball travelled over him and entered the goal just inside the far post.
With the second period of extra-time, Stoke made substitutions and looked more dangerous - as it proved with eight minutes remaining when Louis Moult went on a weaving run, before cracking the ball in off a post past Declan Rudd.
With either side not getting the decisive goal, the game went into a penalty shoot out. These were taken at the Barclay End.
Norwich netted their first and second penalties through Dario Dumic and Nick Davey respectively, with Declan Rudd saving the first two from Stoke, low down. Johnbull Omoregie was unfortunate but Stoke netted at their third attempt. David Stephens put Norwich 3-1 up then Stoke reduced to 3-2.
With Norwich only to net again, it was Declan Rudd who lashed home the fifth and final penalty kick into the top corner to see Norwich through, 4-2 on penalties - a reward for the ecstatic spectators who had stayed to the end after nearly two and half hours of the match with freezing fog now roaming over the Carrow Road.
City Line-Up: Rudd, Francomb, Brindley (Clarke 87), Adeyemi, Dumic, Stephens, Omoregie, Smith, Davey, Kelly, Dawkin.
Subs Not Used: Reeves, Steer, Ball, Gordon.
Norwich Penalties: 1) Dario Dumic - scored, 2) Nick Davey - scored, 3) Johnbull Omoregie - saved, 4) David Stephens - scored, 5) Declan Rudd - scored.
Attendance: 817.