CITY Reserves got off to a great start to their Totesport.com Combination - East Division league campaign with a 5-0 victory over Southend United.
Early goals from Chris Martin and Cody McDonald paved the way for the victory at Carrow Road, with Gary Doherty and Goran Maric adding goals just before half-time. Simon Whaley curled home a free-kick on 56 minutes to complete the scoring.
Coach Ian Crook had a strong side at his disposal with Australian goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos starting in goal for the first time since the opening day defeat to Colchester United and Gary Doherty partnering captain David Stephens at the heart of the defence. With a wealth of attacking options available, Chris Martin started on the left wing, with Simon Whaley on the right, Wes Hoolahan and Darel Russell in central midfield. Serbian Goran Maric was paired in attack with Cody McDonald.
Southend United handed trials to Bermudian international left-back Khano Smith, Portsmouth's Yugoslav-born striker Danijel Subotic and former Real Zaragoza B midfielder Danijel Kosovac.
City took the lead three minutes in, Wes Hoolahan the architect skipping past two men on the edge of the area before feeding Chris Martin. The Beccles-born striker stepped inside his man before placing his right-foot shot in the corner past Ian Joyce, returning from injury in the Southend goal.
Cody McDonald doubled the lead four minutes later as the visitors' defence went missing. The former Dartford striker was allowed the freedom of the left of the penalty box and beat Joyce at his near post.
City continued to dominate and captain David Stephens almost made it three, heading Hoolahan's cross narrowly wide at the far post. Goran Maric almost got in on the act on 18 minutes, his first shot was blocked and at the second attempt shot narrowly wide.
Michael Theoklitos was called into action to save a long-range effort from Stuart O'Keefe, but the City defence remained largely untroubled all half.
Hoolahan and McDonald should have done better with their respective chances to extend City's advantage before Gary Doherty did just that two minutes before half-time.
Hoolahan's low free-kick from the right - following a foul on Simon Whaley - found the run of Doherty, who side-footed home unchallenged from six yards.
A minute before the interval Maric stung Joyce's palms with a fizzing effort on his left foot before netting in injury time.
McDonald broke free down the right channel and crossed for the Serbian striker to powerfully beat Joyce from close range.
Half-Time: Norwich City Reserves 4, Southend United Reserves 0
CHRIS MARTIN: Scorer of City's opening goal on the night
The Shrimpers looked for a route back into the game and were presented with an opportunity at the start of the second half but Danijel Subotic shot straight at Theoklitos.
City soon returned to the ascendancy with Martin placing his right-foot shot narrowly wide of the far post from Darel Russell's slide-rule pass. Hoolahan thought he had made it five when he cheekily beat Joyce with a flick of the outside foot but referee Cooper had adjuged the former Blackpool man had held his man in the build-up. Joyce shuffled an effort from Hoolahan from the edge of the area round the post as City continued to dominate.
Whaley struck City's fifth on 56 minutes after Russell was fouled 22 yards out. The former Preston winger curled his free-kick right-footed into the bottom left-hand corner. Russell was replaced shortly afterwards by Dane Dario Dumic.
FIVE-STAR: Simon Whaley curls home City's fifth from a free-kick
James Walker came close for the visitors with a free-kick of his own three minutes later, but his effort went narrowly over. Lee Sawyer was booked for a late challenge on Hoolahan. Chris Martin was withdrawn for Josh Dawkin.
Dougie Freedman should have pulled one back for the Shrimpers when he connected with Subotic's shot across goal but diverted the loanee's effort the wrong side of the post. Right-back George Francomb picked up a knock and made way for Richard Brindley.
Theoklitos pulled off a magnificent reaction save in injury time to preserve City's clean sheet and Joyce was required to make good saves from McDonald, Whaley and twice from Maric late on to keep the score down.
Full-Time: Norwich City Reserves 5, Southend United Reserves 0
CITY: Theoklitos, Francomb (Brindley 78), Habergham, Doherty, Stephens (c), Russell (Dumic 57), Whaley, McDonald, Maric, Hoolahan, Martin (Dawkin 68). Subs not used: Steer (GK), Kelly.
Southend: Joyce, Sankofa (c), Smith, O'Keefe, Whittaker, Clayton, Scannell (Milner 66), Sawyer (Dennis 71), Freedman (Kosovac 76), Subotic, Walker. Subs not used: Bentley (GK), Crawford.
Referee: I Cooper
Att: 921
Pictures courtesy of Aaron Murrell
