In an early attack from West Ham, Declan Rudd spread himself to keep out a goal bound effort from Oliver Lee after Ahmed Abdullah supplied a low cross.
The chilly morning, soon warmed up for Norwich as they took a fourth minute lead. Following a George Francomb corner, David Stephens leapt above defenders, inside the West Ham penalty area, to force home the ball with a downward header inside the far post, and out of arms reach of Marek Stech.
On ten minutes David Stephens made a last ditch tackle to divert the ball away from goal, when Ahmed Abdullah latched onto a through ball from midfield. Norwich replied almost immediately when Danny Kelly forced a save from the West Ham keeper. West Ham then had a corner of there own on thirteen minutes.
Daniel Kearns swung the flag kick into the Norwich’s penalty area, and Ahmed Abdullah glanced a header towards goal, only for David Stephens to assist the ball on its travels and into the roof of the net, for the equaliser.
The Assistant Referee had confirmed an own goal…but a debate may continue from the Hammers striker.
On twenty three minutes Ahmed Abdullah again got clear, but David Stephens, in the thick of the action, closed down the angle and allowing Declan Rudd to save.
But another good attack from Norwich saw them almost go in front. Damon Lathrope played the ball infield for Korey Smith, and with him driving forward, unleashed a super strike which had Marek Stech parrying the ball away at full stretch.
Norwich continued to take the game to West Ham as the second half got underway and again were denied when Joshua Dawkin burst through from the far side in to the penalty area after good play, and there was Marek Stech again diving to his left to fingertip the ball away, to concede a corner.
But West Ham’s Oliver Lee on the hour mark, upped gears as he sped through Norwich’s half to unleash a spectacular shot, from almost thirty yards which was heading for the top corner only for Declan Rudd, to somehow tip the ball onto the crossbar in mid flight ,and watched it rebound into play, with the follow up going wide.
In the second of seven minutes of stoppage time Korey Smith attacking from midfield and on the run swerved one way then the other, making room as he set his sights on goal, and from the edge of the penalty area, his powerful strike was blocked as a West Ham defender’s head got in the way to balloon the ball skywards.
It was a strong performance from Norwich, equally matched by West Ham’s which after there respective Youth Cup ties in midweek, in a match well received by all spectators.
City Line-Up: Rudd, Omoregie, Francomb, Smith, Stephens, Dumic, Daley (69. Clarke) , Lathrope, Ujick (80. Reeves), Kelly, Dawkin.
Subs Not Used: Grieveson.
