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Norwich City came under the hammer against a lively West Ham outfit, with the young Canaries under constant first half pressure, before getting to grips with their opponents in a much improved second-half fight back. During the second-half City had Ball dismissed for a professional foul, leaving his colleagues down to ten men for a long period. West Ham had seen off Arsenal and Chelsea in previous weeks at Little Heath with 3-1 victories, so Norwich knew what they were up against. Heavy overnight rain had made the pitch at Little Heath very sapping indeed, but both sets of players mastered the conditions, albeit with occasional slips. Matthews in the Norwich goal, was called upon on just two minutes when he did well to cling onto Purdy's thirty-yard free kick. Montano, on eight minutes, then shot past the far post from the edge of the Norwich penalty area. Within a four minutes spell Norwich conceded two further free kicks, both taken again by Purdy. Sanchez headed the first over the crossbar and then Matthews again had to be called upon, saving with both hands. But on sixteen minutes the West Ham pressure finally told. Hall delivered an inviting pass from out on the left hand side of the Norwich penalty area and Barrett came storming in to slide the ball into the Norwich net. On twenty seven minutes Matthews did well to divert a Montano effort for a corner. From the corner taken by Purdy a minute later, Montano got to the ball ahead of his colleague Wearon to squeeze home a low header to increase West Ham's lead to 2-0. Norwich had to wait until the forty-second minutes to find a response. This duly came with Drmola picking out Dawkin, whose shot was dealt with by former loanee Norwich goalkeeper Loveday, for a corner. Matthews at the other end, then used his legs to save from Barrett, after Purdy's precise cross. In the last minute of the first half, Norwich again threatened the West Ham goal when Ball's cross picked out Dawkin, whose shot was blocked. The ball squirmed across the penalty area for Kelly to strike the ball towards goal from an angle, but a deflection saw the ball clear the crossbar. Norwich resumed the second half with more determination, no doubt following words spoken from Ricky Martin, the Academy Manager. Kelly on fifty two minutes chased a through ball inside the penalty area, but Loveday dealt with the striker’s shot. A minute later Kelly again found himself without a defender alongside him and shot just wide. On sixty one minutes Hall caused concern for Norwich defenders. With his speed and ball control he drove forward inside the Norwich penalty area, and only a superb one handed save by Matthews to turn the ball around the post kept the Hammers from adding a further goal. But then on sixty three minutes Norwich were reduced to ten men. With Hall latching onto a timely pass and through on goal, he got the better of Ball, who clipped the young forward’s heels, and Referee Child had little option but to pull the red card from his breast pocket. On seventy four minutes, Norwich pulled a goal back when Dawkin powered the ball beyond Loveday high into the netting from a delightful Francomb cross. But only moments later from the restart, Norwich allowed Montano, who collected the ball out left, to advance unchallenged into the penalty area and slip the ball just inside Matthews’ right hand post to seal a Hammers victory. Norwich now have to re-group in preparation for the visit of FA Youth Cup holders and Academy Champions Arsenal next Saturday, having gained a creditable draw back in October on their travels. West Ham can now concentrate on a West Country visit to Plymouth Argyle in the Youth Cup ...the scene from Norwich's early exit against Torquay United. West Ham Line-Up: Loveday, Modelski (Smith), Brown (Driver), Craig, Sanchez, Moncur, Barrett (Subuola), Wearon, Hall, Purdy, Montano. City Line-Up: Matthews, Ball, A. Stephens, Ekim, Dumic, D. Stephens, Clarke (Osemwegie 64), Francomb, Kelly, Drmola (Oakley 84), Dawkin. Norwich Man of the Match: Matthews. |
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Report courtesy of Rob Maynard. |