A BELOW-PAR Norwich City Academy side lost 1-0 to Torquay United in the second round of the FA Youth Cup on a blustery night at Plainmoor.
The conditions didn't aid the game with the solitary goal coming in the 31st minute direct from a Richard Westcott free-kick.
City's Jed Steer was the busier of the two goalkeepers on the night, pulling off a couple of fantastic saves, but Ricky Martin's side weren't without chances of their own, the best of them falling to sub David Nwaogu late-on.
City made all the early running and had the ball in the net as early as the 2nd minute through Johnbull Osemwegie. However, the assistant referee's flag was already raised against the midfielder from the through-ball.
Drmola, Josh Dawkin and Ryan Oakley all combined to create an opening for the latter, but Oakley's first-time shot from the edge of the area went narrowly wide. Steer saved well from Saul Halpin in the 19th minute before the game entered a lull, in which Torquay scored the all-important goal.
Left-back Westcott delivered an in-swinging free-kick from the right with his left foot, which curled straight into the far corner. Two Torquay players ran across the flight of the delivery but failed to make contact leaving Steer with no chance.
City survived a scare to take the game out of their reach just before the hour-mark when Steer threw up a strong right-arm to deflect a certain goal from Saul Haplin over the bar after the winger met an inviting Ashley Yeoman cross at the far post. Matt Ball and David Nwaogu entered the fray just after the hour-mark for Brindley and Tyree Clarke.
The young Canaries looked to increase the tempo in the final 20 minutes and Josh Dawkin and David Stephens went close with headers from skipper Sam Habergham's deliveries.
Sub Nwaogu had two great chances to equalise, first he saw his lobbed effort tipped over by 'keeper Michael Searle when one-on-one. Then with only two minutes remaining he latched on to a Drmola through-ball and beat Searle to the ball but slid his effort inches wide of the post. Steer made a fantastic reflex save as three minutes of injury time were signalled, tipping Yeomans shot over the bar.
David Stephens pushed forward to join the attack and forced a save from Searle with a long-range effort after showing great footwork in the last action of the match as it was Torquay United who progressed to meet Millwall in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
Speaking to canaries.co.uk after the match, Academy Manager Ricky Martin said: "I am extremely disappointed with the performance tonight, with the preparation taken into account. We simply didn't show up and do the basics and the game is all about doing the basics.
"The chances we did create we didn't take and ultimately we didn't deserve to go through and it is very disappointing to go out of this tournament because we all know how important it is. We now need to bounce back for the derby match against Ipswich at the weekend and we need to see a reaction."
CITY: Steer, Brindley (Ball 62), Gordon, Ekim, D.Stephens, Habergham (c), Clarke (Nwaogu 65), Osemwegie, Drmola, Oakley, Dawkin. Subs not used: A.Stephens, Matthews (GK), S.Kelly.
Torquay: Searle, Parish, Westcott, Kudi, Palmer (c), Taylor, Hemming, Beattie, Spear, Yeoman, Halpin. Subs not used: Holland, Bennett (GK), Mackin, Fletcher, Clark.
Photos courtesy of Richard Phillips
