U18s Beat Canaries
Saturday, 13th Aug 2011 14:26

Town's U18s completed their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 victory over local rivals Norwich City at Playford Road on Saturday morning. In a thoroughly entertaining match, a first half penalty from Caolan Lavery was the difference between the two sides.

The Blues included 15-year-old schoolboy Byron Lawrence, who was on the first team bench in Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat to Northampton, on the right side of midfield.

Lawrence had the game's first real chance after four minutes when he headed Lavery's cross from the right over the bar.

The former Histon youth then flashed a 20-yard effort wide on 23 as both teams struggled to come to terms with the wet conditions; players on both sides regularly losing their footing.

Four minutes later and Town were ahead after Jack Marriott was fouled in the box by Kyle McFadden. Lavery stepped up and confidently sent Matthews the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The game came to life towards the end of the first half. Canaries striker Jamar Loza hit a powerful effort from just inside the box that Town keeper Conor O'Donnell did well to turn away for a corner.

Town broke from the resultant corner and Lawrence played through Mark Timlin who found himself one-on-one with visiting keeper Remi Matthews, but the first-year scholar's right-foot effort drifted wide of the post.

With five minutes of the half remaining, O'Donnell produced a flying save to deny Cameron McGeehan's header after a left-wing cross from Ben Wyatt.

Town broke again and a short back-pass from Taylor McKenzie almost let in Marriott, but his effort was well saved by Matthews.

Left-back David October preserved Town's lead five minutes into the second half when he blocked a certain goal following good work from half-time sub Reece Hall-Johnson on the left.

Town sub Jack Simmons then produced a strong run on the left and set up Lavery in the box, but Norwich defender McKenzie produced a fine tackle to deny the Northern Ireland U21 international.

Keeper Matthews produced another fine save to deny Lavery, this time preventing his free-kick from entering the top corner on the hour mark.

Matthews was on hand to deny Simmons moments later with a good block after Lavery had created some space in the area.

The visiting keeper was keeping his side in the game and turned Lavery's effort round the post after he had found himself one-on-one again.

The Canaries did create a few chances with Michael Clunan's 25-yard drive being tipped over by O'Donnell and Dean Florence squandering a good chance when he got in behind the Town backline.

On 78, Lavery's effort was blocked and the ball fell to Carel Tiofack, whose effort was somehow cleared off the line by Clunan.

In a very good advert for youth football, both keepers produced some top quality saves to keep their sides in the game. Lavery worked hard for Town up front, whilst Lawrence showed flashes of the quality that has obviously caught Paul Jewell's eye.

U18s: O'Donnell, Bennett (Thompson 80), October (Hammond 80), Leddy, Acott (Maduako 69), Thorsteinsson (Schroder 69), Lawrence (Tiofack 62), Jones, Lavery, Marriott (Simmons 52), Timlin. Unused: Cropper.

Report: James Ager

Photo: Action Images

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