DALEY STRIKES ON HIS RETURN
A LATE Kevin Lisbie goal gave Colchester United a share of the points as they drew 1-1 with the Canary Reserves at Colney this afternoon.
On his return from injury striker Luke Daley had given City the lead on 21 minutes after a bright start from the home side who should have been further ahead before the break. But a strong U's side featuring David Fox, Magnus Okuonghae, Ian Henderson and Kevin Lisbie got into their running in the second half - Okuonghae and Henderson both testing Jed Steer in the City goal.
And with just two minutes left, a Fox free-kick found Sam Corcoran on the edge of the area who headed it back into the danger zone and in the resulting scramble Lisbie popped up to stab the ball into the back of the net.
With Declan Rudd injured, 17-year-old fellow Academy product Steer was in goal with first team defenders Jens Berthel Askou and Michael Spillane lining up in front of him in defence. Welsh international midfielder Owain Tudur Jones, whose loan spell at Yeovil Town expired on Saturday was in midfield and forward Luke Daley returned to action following a lengthy lay-off with a thigh injury, his last appearance coming in early December in the 2-0 home win over Oldham Athletic.
City made most of the running at the start of the first half, with Welsh youth international Josh Dawkin spearheading several Canary attacks at the point of the midfield diamond - forcing U's 'keeper Mark Cousins into a save as early as the second minute.
The 18-year-old then headed over the bar after a quarter-of-an-hour and then three minutes later helped force Cousins into a triple save - Daley the first to have his shot blocked, then Dawkin and finally Danny Kelly whose effort from the rebound was scambled just wide of the far post.
But on 21 minutes the Canaries did take the lead - good work down the left by Tom Adeyemi and George Francomb saw Francomb deliver a great ball into the box for Daley to head home.
City were firmly in control with Colchester's dangermen Lisbie and Henderson being restricted to limited possession, and the Canaries went into the half-time break 1-0 up.
The second half saw Colchester come back into the game and although the Canaries had good opportunities to extend their lead through Damon Lathrope and Kelly the visitors were getting more possession.
Defender Okuonghae forced Steer into a good reaction save on 74 minutes, heading a Fox corner goalwards through a crowded penalty area. Former City youngster Ian Henderson then forced another excellent save from the Canary stopper on 83 minutes after letting fly from about 25 yards.
Then on 88 minutes they finally found a way through - a Fox free-kick finding Corcoran on the edge of the box who headed the ball into a crowded box and in a scramble Lisbie threw himself to get the final touch past Steer.
Final score: Norwich City Reserves 1 Colchester United Reserves 1
CITY: Steer, Spillane, D.Stephens, Askou, Francomb, Tudur Jones (Gordon 61), Lathrope, Adeyemi, Dawkin, Daley (Drmola 46), Kelly. Sub not used: Oakley.
Colchester: Cousins, Knudsen, Okuonghae, Batth (Heath 46), Bender, Vincent, Fox, Corcoran, Elito (Malton 82), Henderson, Lisbie. Subs not used: Cussack, Sanderson, Hamilton.
Referee: S. Long
Attendance: 49
Pictures courtesy of Richard Phillips
