OVER 3,000 fans at Carrow Road were treated to an entertaining Barclays Premier Reserve encounter with Chelsea which ended 3-3 on the night.
The Canaries included a number of first team names needing match action, the trio of James Vaughan, Elliott Ward and Marc Tierney making their respective comebacks from injury.
Goalkeeper Jed Steer also started against a Chelsea team that included many of the players that edged past City's U18s in the FA Youth Cup on penalties earlier this month, such as captain Nathaniel Chalobah, and £6M Brazilian striker Lucas Piazon.
And it was the Brazilian who gave the visitors a first-half lead, captilising on a good through-ball to slot home on 24 minutes. The Canaries had started positively with Vaughan and Elliott Bennett looking bright and this was taken into the second half when City drew level just two minutes after the break - Bennett's free-kick met by Vaughan with a great diving header.
City were ahead nine minutes later through a strong Richard Brindley effort and substitute Jamar Loza gave them a two-goal advantage midway through the half. But two good finishes by Chelsea substitute Islam Feruz gave the visitors a share of the spoils.
The first chance of the game had come on seven minutes falling to City's James Vaughan who was found by a good cross from the right by Richard Brindley. The striker tried to hit an effort on the volley but his shot was blocked and as he looked to regain his balance, and the ball, the Chelsea defender snuffed out any further chance and cleared his lines.
Vaughan was proving a nuisance to the young Chelsea defenders showing good strength and pace and on 16 minutes George Saville had a talking to from the referee after he tugged back the former Everton man as he looked to burst through on goal. Unfortunately the Canaries couldn't capitalise on the free-kick into the box as Elliott Ward was adjudged to have commiteed a foul as he looked to meet Simon Lappin's delivery.
The visitors saw more of the possession midway through the first half and took advantage on 24 minutes when a good ball through by Marko Mitrovic was pounced on by Lucas Piazon - the forward got ahead of the Canary defence and slotted the ball under Jed Steer to give them the one-goal lead.
Just after the half-hour Vaughan caused Chelsea 'keeper James Russell a scare when he miskicked his clearance from Bennett's long ball over the top and Vaughan challenged the youngster and won possession - but the City man couldn't work the ball into a shooting chance and it gave Saville the time to tackle and get his stopper out of trouble.
Six minutes before the break the Canaries were awarded a free-kick near the byline after Nathaniel Chalobah's strong challenge on Aaron Wilbraham, the Chelsea captain seeing a yellow card. But again Bennett's deep delivery was seen away by the Blues. Moments later the Canaries looked for another opening, Vaughan trying to get on the end of a Wilbraham header but Chelsea again held firm and cleared the danger for a corner.
Just before the break Jacob Mellis had a long-range shot but Steer was equal to the challenge and got down well for a comfortable save.
Half-time: Norwich City Reserves 0, Chelsea Reserves 1
It was a great start to the half for the Canaries when they drew level within two minutes of the restart - Vaughan meeting Bennett's deep free-kick from the right with a diving header, which saw the ball nestle sweetly in the corner of the net.
Just a couple of minutes later Simon Lappin had a effort rise just over the bar, and then the Scot had a free-kick pushed round the far post by Russell.
The Canaries were passing it around nicely and on 56 minutes they took the lead. Vaughan and Wibraham exchanged passes on the edge of the box and the big striker pulled the ball back into space, eluding Elliott Bennett but not the onrushing Brindley who struck his shot well and the Chelsea defenders on the line couldn't prevent his effort hitting the back of the net.
Around the hour-mark both teams made two substitutions - City replacing Vaughan and Ward with Jamar Loza and Harry Barker respectively.
On 64 minutes City went close again when Wilbraham glanced Simon Lappin's free-kick just past the far post.
But the Canaries did take a two-goal lead three minutes later when substitute Loza evaded his markers opening space for himself to shoot - and although his effort hit the post he was the first to react to the rebound and made sure he hit the net the second time round for 3-1.
City's final substitution saw Marc Tierney complete 71 minutes of action before being replaced by young full-back Harry Toffolo.
Chelsea pulled one back on 72 minutes, substitute Islam Feruz placing a powerful header past Steer from a good ball in from the left.
Five minutes later Josh Dawkin stung the hands of Russell, who had to gather the Wales Under-19 international's driven effort at the second attempt.
But it was the visitors who scored next completing their come-back through a fine individual goal from substitute Feruz, his left-footed curling shot hitting the top corner giving Steer no chance.
The game was opening up with both sides going for the win. Harry Toffolo winning a corner after his run and strike were thwarted at the near post by Russell.
With five minutes left the Chelsea stopper was called into action again, this time Loza testing him with a header, which he pushed round his post to concede the corner.
And there was a late surge by the Canaries, when in the first minute of stoppage time both the post and 'keeper Russell prevented them scoring the winner, firstly Bennett then Wilbraham denied at the death in what was a thoroughly entertaining end to the game.
Final score: Norwich City Reserves 3, Chelsea Reserves 3
Norwich City (4-4-2): Steer, Brindley, Tierney (Toffolo 71), Lappin, Ward (c) (Barker 61), McKenzie, Bennett, Ball, Vaughan (Loza 61), Wilbraham, Dawkin
Subs not used: Matthews, Clunan.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Russell, Kane, Chalobah, (c), Saville, Deen-Conteh, C. Clifford (Ake 60), Lalkovic, Mellis (Ince 86), Mitrovic (Feruz 55), B. Clifford, Piazon
Subs not used: Beeney, Baker.
Attendance: 3,138
Picture courtesy of Richard Phillips
