NORWICH City Academy returned to winning ways beating Southampton 3-2 at Colney today.
City chalked up their fifth home win of the season after heavy overnight rain and strong winds made it a difficult day to play attractive football.
The visitors enjoyed the best of the earlier play after adapting better to the conditions and took the lead in the 8th minute. A cross from the left was not dealt with and the Saints forward had the easiest of opportunities to guide the visitors ahead.
City slowly got back into the game and after quarter of an hour a good break and cross from the lively Ryan Oakley found Danny Kelly, whose first time shot was well saved.
Just before the half hour mark Norwich should have been level, a high ball over the top of the Southampton defence found Patrick Drmola who dragged his shot across goal but wide of the far post.
On the half hour Oakley again did well in his wide right position and his cross forced a Southampton defender to head into his own goal to make draw the Canaries level.
City went in ahead at the break having turned the game around. Alex Stephen's cross from the left-back position made it's way to Danny Kelly who did well to slide in unmarked and poke the ball past the Saints goalkeeper.
Half-Time: City 2, Southampton 1
Johnbull Osemwegie replaced Sam Habergham at half-time.
On 52 minutes City should really have extended their lead. A good cross from Remy Gordon found Drmola in space four yards out but he didn't connect well enough with his header. Ryan Oakley though kept the ball in play and crossed for Drmola who was unable to hit the target from close range.
Five minutes later Southampton came close to scoring, a cross from the left was met on the volley by a Southampton forward which crashed against the post.
Just after the hour mark, Ricky Martin's young Canaries produced one of their best moves of the game, Ryan Oakley chipped the ball over the Southampton defence, Danny Kelly nodded the ball into the path of Drmola whose well struck shot was blocked very well on the goal line.
With 20 minutes remaining Southampton again hit the post, this time from a header following a corner kick. With a little over 10 minutes remaining good footwork from the Southampton forward bought himself some space and time and he produced an excellent curling shot into the far corner to bring the scores level.
On 78 minutes Sam Kelly replaced Alex Stephens and on 83 minutes David Nwaogu replaced triallist Coskun Ekim.
With five minutes remaining substitute Sam Kelly popped up to score the decisive goal. A cross from the right wing was met from close range at the back post by Under-16 Kelly to seal a 3-2 win for City..
Speaking to canaries.co.uk after the match Academy Manager Ricky Martin said: "I'm obviously pleased with the result, and we could have scored more had we taken some of our excellent chances. There were some good individual performances but in general it was a scrappy game and the weather conditions didn't help, but it's nice to get back to winning ways."
CITY: Matthews, Ball, A.Stephens (S.Kelly 78), Ekim (Nwaogu 83), Dumic, Habergham (Osemwegie 46), Oakley, D.Stephens, D.Kelly, Drmola, Gordon. Sub not used: Sessegnon.
City or Torquay United have been drawn at home to Millwall or Oxford United in the third round of the FA Youth Cup. City travel to Plainmoor to face Torquay United on Wednesday, November 18 (7.30pm) in the second round.
