A YOUNG Norwich City XI side ran out 4-1 winners over local team Thetford Town tonight.

City led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of goals from Josh Dawkin and Danny Kelly. Triallist Cherno Samba made it three before Thetford pulled a goal back but substitute Tyree Clarke capped the night off with a fine individual goal late on.

Coach Ian Crook handed a first pre-season appearance to flying winger Luke Daley, who has been out with a thigh strain. Also starting were triallists, midfielder George Wilson and striker Samba, ex of Millwall and Plymouth, while former youth team goalkeeper Danny Gay kept goal.

Thetford came close to opening the scoring six minutes in. A dangerous cross from Simon Mann looked destined for Craig Oliver to tap in at the far post, but George Francomb came to City's rescue with a sliding clearance.

City opened the scoring 20 minutes in, courtesy of winger Dawkin's header. The ball pinged around the Thetford box and fell nicely for the Welsh youth international to head over and through the grasp of Dan Corston's hands.

The two triallists combined a minute later after some patient City build-up. Damon Lathrope orchestrated the move from central midfield, threading a pass into the feet of Samba - who laid the ball off first time for Wilson. However, the 17-year-old midfielder, on trial from Diss Town, struck his effort over Corston's bar.

On the half-hour mark Lathrope drew a fine save from Corston at full-stretch. Samba flicked-on a long ball forward from Dumic on for the midfielder, who had ghosted in on the far side of the penalty box. After taking a touch to bring the ball down, Lathrope struck a low shot across goal, which the Thetford custodian turned round the post.

Two minutes later and Corston fumbled a deep cross under pressure, but recovered well to get fingers on captain Kelly's shot from close range.

Six minutes before the break, Kelly doubled City's lead. A nice interchange between Wilson and Samba created the chance for the captain, who still had work to do. The Republic of Ireland youth international took a touch to set, before flicking a volley past Corston from 15 yards.

Luke Daley was withdrawn on 41 minutes and replaced on the right wing by Tyree Clarke.

Kelly had the ball in the net moments before half-time, but the assistant's flag on the far side had long since been up, before the striker rounded the 'keeper from Lathrope's slide-rule pass.

Half-Time: Thetford Town 0 City XI 2

Matt Ball replaced Damon Lathrope in the centre of midfield at half-time for City.

The hosts started the second half as they did the first, creating the best of the early openings but failed to capitalise when in good positions.

Corston was then called into action twice in as many minutes. Samba's effort from 25 yards was well handled by the stopper. Then Wilson let fly from 30 yards after good approach work from fellow triallist Samba, but again a flying Corston was equal to it.

On 68 minutes, Crook made his remaining five changes, introducing Alex Stephens, triallist James Hadley, Johnbull Osemwegie, Remy Gordon and Kenny Reeves for Habergham, Francomb, Wilson, Dawkin and Kelly respectively.

Craig Collins-Reed forced Gay into his first meaningful save of the match, when the Thetford captain rose highest to meet a free-kick from the right.

City extended their lead when Samba capitalised on some hesitancy in the Thetford defence. The hosts failed to clear a Matt Ball corner from the left and the triallist took full advantage poking home from four yards.

Thetford reduced the arrears to two on 76 minutes when a sub striker broke away down the inside right channel and saw his shot beat Gay, come off the chest of Danish youth international Dario Dumic and nestle in the back of the City net.

The hosts continued to threatened from set-pieces. Two handball shouts were turned down before an effort was lashed over the bar. Then after some pinball in the City box, the ball dribbled through a crowd into the grateful arms of Gay.

Clarke showed great pace and composure to re-establish City's three-goal lead four minutes from time. The sub collected the ball just inside his own half and struggled off Thompson before coolly slotting under sub keeper Matt Terry.

Full-Time: Thetford Town 1 City XI 4

City XI: Gay, Brindley, Habergham (A.Stephens 68), Francomb (Hadley 68), Dumic, Wilson (Osemwegie 68), Daley (Clarke 41), Lathrope (Ball 46), Kelly (c) (Reeves 68), Samba, Dawkin (Gordon 68).

Thetford: Corston, Thompson, Collins-Reed (c), Davies, Atterton, Clayton, Howard, G.Mann, S.Mann, Eavares, Oliver. Subs: Piggott, Terry (GK), Scott, Joseph, Devlin, Catchpole, Boon, Parish.

Referee: D Stobart

Att: 587