A GOAL in each half from Academy striker Patrick Drmola followed a headed opener from Owain Tudur Jones to give a Norwich City Xl a 3-0 victory over hard-working hosts Norwich United.
In tricky conditions with strong cross-winds and a very firm surface, both sides took a while to get into their stride before Welsh international Tudur Jones towered above the United defence to head Matt Gill's corner back across goal and in off the far post in the 12th minute.
Then in the 17th minute Josh Dawkin did well to force his way to the byeline on the left before firing a low ball into the six-yard box which Drmola slid home from close range to make it 2-0.
Winger Ryan Oakley's cross from the right five minutes before the break was only cleared as far as Richard Brindley, but his fierce first-time shot cannoned back off the upright and away to safety.
United included a familiar face to Canary fans in their side during the opening 45 minutes, with French midfielder Cedric Anselin wearing the yellow strip of the home side.
With no City changes at half-time, it was Drmola again on target as the visitors extended their lead in the 53rd minute, pouncing on the rebound after United 'keeper Ben Nower could only parry Dawkin's well-struck effort.
The hosts then put together some of their best football of the match and were a whisker away from reducing the deficit when Justin Fox's drive was deflected on to the post and away for a corner.
Academy Manager Ricky Martin made a number of changes to give several of the younger Norwich players in the squad some useful experience against a competitive Ridgeons League side in the closing stages, and afterwards told First News he was pleased with the night's work following on from Tuesday's 2-0 reverse at King's Lynn Town.
"I thought the quality was a lot better tonight," he commented. "The conditions tonight were difficult but I thought the boys adapted to it very well and I also thought the system (4-3-3) allowed us to play a bit better due to the fact there were two outlets with the two wide men.
"I thought the front three all caused them problems with Patrick down the middle getting two goals which will certainly give him great confidence now to get on the scoresheet - it's now important he builds on that. Ryan Oakley looked very dangerous and Josh (Dawkins) did as well."
Martin confirmed Danish defender Jens Berthel Askou had pulled out of the squad due to family reasons, but praised the contribution of his senior colleagues Matt Gill and Owain Tudur Jones, who scored the game's opening goal playing at centre-back:
"The midfield got control of the game and Mathew Gill was free to get the ball in there and play it out to both flanks. Having said that the back four also did very well. Unfortunately Jens couldn't be with us tonight as he's with his family. He got 45 minutes on Tuesday at Lynn and he would probably have got 60 tonight."
"Probably the biggest plus-point for me over the two games is that we've got no new injuries, so we're now going into the third week of pre-season and that's massive because the boys have been working hard in between games as well."
"We've got a clean bill of health at the moment and the players now go into the next week with confidence and having played some good attacking football."
Norwich United: Nower, Jeal, Blois (McCabe 72), Shipley, Wilson, Anselin (Tacon 46), Hunter (Farrow 72), Fox, Blyth (Claydon 46), Key (Atkins 46), Page (Furlong 46).
Norwich City Xl: Matthews, Francomb (c), Stephens (Jones 76), Gill, Tudur Jones, Gordon (Sturman 76), Oakley (Clunan 79), Brindley (Dobbs (66), Drmola (Loza 66), Ball (Florence 76), Dawkin. Unused sub: Mackenzie.
Attendance: 254
