THE Canaries' senior squad began their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 7-2 victory over striker Cody McDonald's former side Dartford at Princes Park.

A brace each for Chris Martin and Jamie Cureton, further strikes from centre-backs Michael Nelson and Gary Doherty and a great effort from triallist Scott Neilson saw off a game challenge from the Ryman Leaguers.

Before the match City Boss Bryan Gunn revealed warming up with the squad today was former Barcelona B Serbian striker, Goran Maric.

The 6'1" 25-year-old will travel with the Canaries on their forthcoming trip to Scotland.

City took just three minutes to edge in front of their hosts as centre-back Michael Nelson climbed well to score on his debut with a close-range header from Simon Lappin's free-kick.

But just six minutes later the lively Darts' right winger Hayes whipped in a great cross, which Noble fired home from six yards out, giving Declan Rudd in the City goal no chance.

Chris Martin nearly restored the Canaries' advantage when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area after good battling from Wes Hoolahan and then turned well to drill a low shot goalwards, forcing a diving full-stretch save from Young in the Dartford goal.

But Norwich did get their noses back in front on 38 minutes thanks to a great goal from Cambridge City triallist Scott Neilson. Michael Spillane showed good vision to pick out the right winger hugging the touchline with a 40-yard diagonal pass - Neilson's first touch took him inside the full-back and then one more touch gave him the space to blast home from the edge of the box.

With just two minutes of the half remaining Young pulled off a wonder save to deny Spillane's point-blank header. But when Lappin swung in the resulting corner, skipper Gary Doherty met it with an unstoppable header to make it 3-1.

There was still time in the closing action of an eventful first half for White to beat Rudd with a 25-yard curler which thumped against the post and bounced away to safety.

Half-time score: Dartford 1, Norwich City 3

Ten minutes after the restart City sub Matty Pattison lofted a superbly-weighted 60-yard pass into the path of Chris Martin and the young striker showed great control to bring the ball down and shoot home from 14 yards.

Martin was on the scoresheet again in the 66th minute, heading an excellent cross from triallist Neilson back across the Dartford 'keeper and into the net from six yards for his second of the match.

Dartford had displayed some nice football at times, particularly down their right flank, and White reduced the arrears to 5-2 within three minutes, diving to meet a low cross from sub Burchall.

With 20 minutes to go both sets of fans rose to applaud former Dartford favourite Cody McDonald as he made an appearance - and within six minutes he had won City a penalty after being brought down in the area by Burgess. Although sub 'keeper Mott saved Jamie Cureton's first effort brilliantly, the rebound fell kindly for the City striker to ram it home from a yard out.

But if that goal had an element of fortune about it, Cureton's second and City's seventh of the match was arguably the best strike of the game. McDonald tucked a neat pass into his feet and from just inside the area the experienced striker beat Mott with a sumptuous chip that gave the Darts stopper no chance.

Final score: Dartford 2 (Noble 9, White 68), Norwich 7 (Nelson 3, Neilson 38, Doherty 43, Martin 55, 66, Cureton 76, 80)

City: Rudd, Otsemobor, Doherty (c) (Dumic 66), Nelson, Drury, Tudur Jones (Pattison 53), Spillane (Gill 74), Neilson (McVeigh 82), Martin (McDonald 69), Hoolahan (Cureton 53), Lappin.  Subs not used: Stephens, Steer, Adeyemi.

Dartford: Young (Mott 56), Burgess, Gross, Beales (Eferakerho 56), Coyle, Dafter (c) (Dent 70), Hayes (Bingri 81), Day, Burns (Burchall 64), White, Noble (Isa 35, Crouch 81).

Referee: Andy D'Urso

Attendance: 1,910