Town’s U18s drew 1-1 with local rivals Norwich City in a competitive encounter at Playford Road on Saturday morning. Joshua Murphy put the visitors ahead before Jack Marriott equalised and secured a point for Russell Osman’s youngsters.
Blues keeper Conor O’Donnell was forced into action early on when he made a good save down low from a Joshua Murphy effort.
Joe Whight then flicked an Elliot Scotcher freekick just over the bar before O’Donnell produced a fine block to deny Jamar Loza.
Gunnar Thorsteinsson’s cross was headed straight at visiting keeper Remi Matthews by Callum Bennett but the first half saw a distinct lack of clear-cut chances created by either side.
The Canaries came close to taking the lead two minutes into the second half when Michael Clunan’s freekick was brilliantly palmed round the post by O’Donnell.
Just after the hour mark and in a rare passing move by either side, Bennett produced a low cross that Carel Tiofack blazed over when he should have hit the target.
On 68, the visitors took the lead when Murphy latched onto a ball through the middle of the Town defence and slotted past O’Donnell.
The Canaries over-the-top celebrations, which saw keeper Matthews join the rest of his team in the corner were soon cut short as within a minute, Town had equalised. A good run from Jack Marriott on the right presented Tiofack with a good chance which was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to Marriott who hit a left-foot shot into the net.
Tiofack’s volley flew just wide with 15 minutes remaining, prior to sub Joe Peacock releasing the dangerous Murphy, but O’Donnell again thwarted the attacker.
As the game entered stoppage time, Whight’s freekick deflected off the wall and dropped wide of the post but the draw was probably a fair result.
Keeper O’Donnell again made some fine saves but the two sets of centre-halves were busiest throughout, time and again heading long balls away from danger. Meanwhile, Town's U16s lost 3-2 to the same opposition.
U18s: O’Donnell, Jones, October, Whight, Maduako, Thorsteinsson, Scotcher (Winter 78), Bennett, Marriott, Simmons, Tiofack (Lawrence 78). Unused: Meikle, Timlin, Hammond.
Report: James Ager