Tony Stokes grabbed the all important goal just two minutes from normal time to secure all three points for West Ham in a lively contest which was over-shadowed by a nasty looking ankle injury sustained by Alvin Quaye. The game was a credit to the FA Premier Academy League, on a very warm Indian summer's day at Little Heath. With West Ham and Norwich coming into this fixture on the back of 1-5 deficits against Ipswich and Arsenal respectively, it gave both coaches the ideal opportunity to put their clubs back on track. On just four minutes West Ham's Ishmael Welsh centred, and Zavon Hines in the Norwich penalty area got a touch on the ball, but it ballooned over the crossbar. Norwich also made a lively start, especially Robert Eagle in the Norwich midfield, who took the game to the Hammers.	Chris Martin rises high at Little Heath
West Ham go close	Eleven minutes in, and after a Norwich breakdown from defence to attack, Hogan Ephraim came away with the ball for the Hammers and from twenty five yards out rifled a shot that just cleared the Norwich crossbar. Three minutes later, Ishmael Welsh did well and played in the lively Hogan Ephraim, and only England international keeper Joe Lewis in the Norwich goal prevented him from opening the scoring. On nineteen minutes, Kyel Reid's precise pass sent Hogan Ephraim away who had another strike, and Joe Lewis again was in the way with another save, conceding a corner.
From the resulting corner a further ball into the Norwich penalty area was snapped up by Zavon Hines and from six yards out he smacked the ball against the face of the crossbar. The ball rebounded to James Tomkins who pulled the rebound wide of a post. Norwich kept on responding with attacking football, led through the energetic Robert Eagle. An opening came for the Canaries on thirty three minutes when Eagle sped away and released a perfect through ball for Bally Smart, West Ham keeper Erem Kemal advanced from goal to block the shot. West Ham opened the second half, with their typical flowing football. However Norwich had now limited the Hammers chances with Michael Spillane and former Hammers U16 player Alvin Quaye at the heart of the Canaries defence.	Robert Eagle moves forward for Norwich
Alvin Quaye in action before being carried off	West Ham then had to wait until the sixty eighth minute for a further sight on goal. Hogan Ephraim was upended outside the Norwich penalty area, but brushed himself down to send the direct free kick away from the Norwich defenders. Once again big Joe Lewis dived fully to his left to parry the ball away. Again Norwich responded, after a free kick in midfield, which released Adam Gusterson on the left who made for goal, and his strike was pushed away by Erem Kemal. On seventy three minutes, Alvin Quaye went down after a challenge with Hogan Ephraim, on the edge of his penalty area, and was in agony. He couldn't continue and a stretcher was called for. Alvin, consoled by his former colleagues as well as his current ones, later went for an exploratory x-ray in hospital. With five minutes left, Norwich's Chris Martin got clear of his markers with only Erem Kemal to beat but his effort was parried away.
With just two minutes left a well-flighted West Ham corner was met by Jack Jeffery and his twisting header appeared to be looping over the crossbar. However the ball dipped and Joe Lewis leapt backwards to tip the ball onto the crossbar, but as the ball rebounded back into play, Tony Stokes reacted in lightening quick fashion to stab the ball just over the line. Although it was a very late winner, the Hammers had just edged it when a goal-less draw looked certain. City Line-Up: Lewis, Cave-Brown, Gusterson, Spillane,. Quaye, Muddel, Fisk, Eagle, Thrale, Martin, Smart. City Subs: Bexfield, El Ouargui, Howlett, ….. Special thanks to Tony Fowles and Robert Maynard from the Ironworks Gazette for the report and photos

Further Action From The Match
The Norwich defence indulges in a spot of ball-watching	Robert Eagle (left) had a good game in midfield
Michael Spillane	Patrick Bexfield comes away with the ball
Seb Muddel in action	Concern alround as Alvin Quaye is moved onto a stretcher
Bally Smart tussles for the ball	Chris Martin follows the flight of the ball