Midfielder Owen Garvan played 67 minutes as Town's reserves defeated Norwich 3-0 in the second string derby at Playford Road. Derby goal specialist Danny Haynes netted twice, once from the spot, and Darryl Knights added his seventh in his last four competitive reserve games.
The Blues went ahead in the 10th minute after Haynes had been pulled back in the area by sinisterly monikered Canaries defender Michael Spillane. Referee Gavin Ward immediately pointed to the spot and Haynes sent loanee Norwich keeper Lee Camp the wrong way.
Haynes clearly enjoys scoring against the Canaries, with whom he had a trial before joining Town, memorably netting the winner in the senior game at Carrow Road last season and also scoring three goals over two victories for the reserves.
Knights saw a header saved by Camp on 17 before the game got into the true derby spirit as Andy Hughes and Sammy Moore clashed, referee Ward handling the situation with the sort of common sense rarely seen in Town's first team games of late. Ward was forced to dish out a card shortly afterwards as Matthieu Louis-Jean flew into Haynes some while after the ball had departed.
Sito shot wide from 20 yards as the Blues continued to have much the better of the game.
Keeper Jaroslav Drobný wasn't called into action until the 35th minute when he tipped Ryan Jarvis's 25-yard strike over the bar. From the resultant corner, Peter Thorne headed over.
The Czech keeper, on a short-term contract as cover for the injured Lewis Price, was in action again soon after, getting down quickly to his right to push Ryan Jarvis's long distance strike wide.
Norwich should have had themselves back on terms just before the break but Thorne headed a right wing cross wide at the far post when it looked easier to score.
The Blues doubled their lead five minutes into the second half. Haynes turning sharply in the area and beating Camp.
Garvan, clearly preparing for a return to first team action, picked up a yellow card for holding on to the ball after the referee had given a freekick against him, Drobný pulling off a spectacular save from Ryan Jarvis's 20-yard deadball strike. From the corner, Thorne headed across the face of goal.
Town replaced Garvan with Jai Reason in the 67th minute, the Irishman having understandably looked short on fitness but showing the odd glimpse of his class. Clearly a few more games and a little more training are required before a return to first team action can be considered. Jordan Rhodes took over from Haynes up front.
The hugely impressive Drobný made another fine save on 70 as Ryan Jarvis went through one-on-one. The 6ft 5in Czech stood his ground and blocked the Norwich man's effort.
Darryl Knights completed the scoring in the 75th minute, taking a ball into his feet and shooting on the turn into Camp's net. Soon after, Russell Short came on for Darren Currie, allowing Sito to move into the midfield.
Drobný made another excellent stop on 78, this time diving high to his right to catch Ryan Jarvis's header. At the other end Camp saved well from Rhodes's shot.
Late on, Ryan Jarvis hit the top of Drobný's crossbar with a looping effort from the edge of the area, but the Czech keeper looked to have his goal covered. In the closing stages Sammy Moore shot wide at one end and Norwich sub Bally Smart beat the post at the other.
Town enjoyed most of the possession but without creating as many chances as they should have done. That said, the excellent Haynes and Knights took their goals well.
Keeper Drobný made several fine saves and was a dominant, confidence-instilling figure between the posts, catching everything in the air and stopping everything on the ground.
Defensively, Town were good for the most part, a somewhat slight backline —James Krause and Michael Synnott, both primarily full-backs, were employed as centre-halves - doing well against the much taller Canary attack. Sammy Moore was always busy in midfield, while sub Jai Reason put in a tidy last 20 minutes.
Reserves: Drobný, Sito, Barron, Moore, Synnott, Krause, Currie (Short 75), Garvan (Reason 67), Haynes (Rhodes 67), Knights, Peters. Unused: Smith, Plummer.