Sammy Morgan's squad was down to the bare bones for Saturday's home fixture against Spurs at Colney. In the end the 2-1 defeat does not tell the whole story, with the young Canaries putting in a great performance, the first half in particular had the Colney regulars warming to Morgan's young charges. Such is the list of injuries at the moment that under-15's Seb Muddel and John Bell were on the subs bench as was under-16 midfielder Archie Lamb. If the side were hoping to put last weeks howler by Shane Herbert behind them then they were very much mistaken as the visitors went a goal up inside the first 30 seconds, with Joe Lewis this time the guilty party. City's England International saw his clearance charged down by Jamie Slabber and although Lewis made an attempt to gather the loose ball, it fell for the Spurs striker to simply roll the ball into an empty net.

David Chick looks on as Danny Crow flicks on a near-post corner

Robert Eagle

It was not the start City were hoping for, but they soon got into their stride and for the remainder of the half they had the visitors on the back foot. With twelve minutes on the clock City drew level with a superbly taken goal from lone striker Danny Crow. After a series of passes the ball was worked out to Nicky Howell on the right flank. His pinpoint cross was chested down by Crow, who took just one touch before unleashing a rising shot that Eyre in the Spurs goal could only parry into his own net. Crow could have scored his second moments later, but from a good angle he pulled his shot wide of the target. Greg Crane had a free kick go just over the cross bar just before the break, when City came off to a healthy round of applause. Crow again went close after the break and quite how nobody got a touch to an inviting cross from Howell we will never know.

Lewis made amends for his mistake in the opening minute with a point blank save from Michael Malcolm, while at the other end it was a combination of Howell and Damian Batt that created City's best chance of the half. The lively Howell pulled the ball back for Lee Blackburn to hit a first time shot that brought out a great reaction save from Eyre. Even then City still might have scrambled the ball over the line, but from the tightest of angles, and under pressure, Olly Wills could only find the side netting. City were forced into bringing on both Bell and Muddel when Crow and Adam Smith both went off injured - something that the young Canaries don't need with the F. A. Youth Cup game against Bolton looming. With just eight minutes on the clock City found themselves behind again when Slabber headed home a right wing cross. City piled on the pressure in the dying moments, even sending up Lewis for a brace of corners, but in the end it was to no avail. As the Spurs coach said as he left the pitch "at the moment we are a bit like the first team - playing badly but still getting the results".

Top Canary Damian Batt

City Line-up: Lewis Batt, Willis, Crane, Chick, Smith [Bell 80], Howell, Blackburn, Crow [Watts 67], Howlett, Eagle [Muddel 75]. Sub not used: Lamb. Top Canary: Damian Batt.

Further Action From The Match
Lee Howlett played in a five-man midfield	City goalscorer Danny Crow looks to the Gods
Damian Batt gets in a bit of a tangle	Adam Smith suffered a nasty ankle injury
Report and Pictures courtesy of John Landamore.	Joe Lewis, back from first team duty, gathers safely