CITY WIN TOUR OPENER
Posted on: Sun 20 Jul 2008
NORWICH City got off to a winning start to their pre-season tour of Sweden thanks to an injury-time winner from City striker Jamie Cureton.
The picturesque setting of the Sjovallen Stadium saw the Canaries against fourth tier Swedish side Ahlarfors IF. City captain Mark Fotheringham and winger Lee Croft featured in the starting line-up after being absent during Wednesday's 8-1 victory over Gorleston. French trialist Chris Makiese started upfront for the Canaries.
Wes Hoolahan and Adam Drury were not in the squad, the left back was another member of the squad to miss the Gorleston match while Hoolahan had suffered from a tight thigh towards the end of the 8-1 victory.
The Canaries took the lead in the 11th minute on the counter attack. Croft played the ball through from the centre circle to trialist Chris Makiese who coolly lobbed the Ahlafors' 'keeper from just inside the area. The home side made the perfect response after City failed to deal with the ball inside David Marshall's area allowing Tobias Emback to score from close range.
Both Lee Croft and Chris Martin had chances to give the Canaries the lead before the break but saw their efforts go wide of the right post.
The first chance of the second half came from a good run from Pattison, forcing a save from the Ahlafors 'keeper. The Canaries continued to dominate with efforts from Doherty, Martin and Croft but they could not find the back of the net. The heavens really opened during the second period as fans all around the ground found shelter under umbrellas.
It looked set to be a draw just like the last time the two sides met in 1984 until two substitutes gave City the win. A fine cross from youngster Korey Smith found Jamie Cureton unmarked in the area and the forward made no mistake with a good header just before the referee blew his whistle for full time.
Speaking after the match, City boss Glenn Roeder said: "All games are keenly fought out when you come to Scandinavia, you always get difficult games. I know we scored with three seconds to go but you'd have to say that we had so much of the ball that we deserved to win."
See Canaries.co.uk and CanariesWorld tomorrow for further reaction to City's opening game of the pre-season tour of Sweden.
City (4-4-2): Marshall (Nelson 45); Otsemobor, Doherty, Shackell (Russell 50), Eagle (Chadwick 60); Croft (Smith 86), Fotheringham (C), Clingan, Pattison; Martin (Cureton 69), Makiese. Subs not used: Lathrope, Spillane.
The picturesque setting of the Sjovallen Stadium saw the Canaries against fourth tier Swedish side Ahlarfors IF. City captain Mark Fotheringham and winger Lee Croft featured in the starting line-up after being absent during Wednesday's 8-1 victory over Gorleston. French trialist Chris Makiese started upfront for the Canaries.
Wes Hoolahan and Adam Drury were not in the squad, the left back was another member of the squad to miss the Gorleston match while Hoolahan had suffered from a tight thigh towards the end of the 8-1 victory.
The Canaries took the lead in the 11th minute on the counter attack. Croft played the ball through from the centre circle to trialist Chris Makiese who coolly lobbed the Ahlafors' 'keeper from just inside the area. The home side made the perfect response after City failed to deal with the ball inside David Marshall's area allowing Tobias Emback to score from close range.
Both Lee Croft and Chris Martin had chances to give the Canaries the lead before the break but saw their efforts go wide of the right post.
The first chance of the second half came from a good run from Pattison, forcing a save from the Ahlafors 'keeper. The Canaries continued to dominate with efforts from Doherty, Martin and Croft but they could not find the back of the net. The heavens really opened during the second period as fans all around the ground found shelter under umbrellas.
It looked set to be a draw just like the last time the two sides met in 1984 until two substitutes gave City the win. A fine cross from youngster Korey Smith found Jamie Cureton unmarked in the area and the forward made no mistake with a good header just before the referee blew his whistle for full time.
Speaking after the match, City boss Glenn Roeder said: "All games are keenly fought out when you come to Scandinavia, you always get difficult games. I know we scored with three seconds to go but you'd have to say that we had so much of the ball that we deserved to win."
See Canaries.co.uk and CanariesWorld tomorrow for further reaction to City's opening game of the pre-season tour of Sweden.
City (4-4-2): Marshall (Nelson 45); Otsemobor, Doherty, Shackell (Russell 50), Eagle (Chadwick 60); Croft (Smith 86), Fotheringham (C), Clingan, Pattison; Martin (Cureton 69), Makiese. Subs not used: Lathrope, Spillane.
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