NORWICH City's Development Squad qualified for the Elite Group of next year's Under-21s Premier League with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final game of the campaign at New Bucks Head.

Josh Murphy scored the game's only goal early in the second half, with the result meaning the Canaries secured a tenth place finish in the division.

Wolves proved resilient opponents, especially in the first half, but City had the better chances through Murphy and Carlton Morris before the young winger eventually got the crucial goal.

Coach Jerry Gill said afterwards: "We came out in the end deserved winners of the game. We posed more questions and a bit of quality from Josh won us the game.

"As an achievement for the Academy, to get in the top league for next season is fantastic. We can now say we're going back to places like Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City. We'll look forward to that next season."

Murphy, who came off the bench on Sunday during the first-team's 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool, started up front while Elliott Bennett continued his comeback from injury with his fourth start for the Under 21s.

It was Murphy who spurned a decent chance after just three minutes when he beat the offside trap, rounded Jonathan Flatt but contrived to fire over the bar from the narrow angle.

Carlton Morris powered a header over from Ray Grant's corner, but Wolves certainly carried a threat from set-pieces too, earning a number of corners in the opening exchanges.

Remi Matthews had to produce an outstanding save to deny Kourtney Hause on 25 minutes before the game settled into a rhythm with fewer opportunities opening up for either team.

That was until the 42nd minute, when Eusebio Bancessi should have opened the scoring for Wolves, but somehow nodded Ben O'Hanlon's cross wide.

HALF-TIME: Wolves 0-0 Norwich City

City took the lead five minutes into the second half through Murphy, who picked up possession from Bennett but hitting a firm shot that went beyond Flatt's outstretched arm, into the bottom right corner.

They were sprightly after their goal, and Bennett was at the centre of their next chance, chipping to the back post for Michee Efete, with the full-back seeing his header blocked on the line by O'Hanlon.

City's shape was restricting Wolves effectively, with the home team struggling to force any opportunities, and their frustration spilled over when Bancessi reacted badly to a challenge from Bennett with ten minutes left.

Ray Grant's free-kick curled just wide for the Canaries in stoppage time, but it wasn't to matter as they held on to sign off the season with a valuable win.

FULL-TIME: Wolves 0-1 Norwich City

GOALS: Canaries: Josh Murphy (50)

WOLVES: Flatt; Kellermann, O'Hanlon (Rainey 83), Kostma, Hause, Carter, Bancessi, Torras (Parry 67), Keita, Whittall (Erdei 70), Forde. Subs not used: Burgoyne (GK).

NORWICH CITY: Matthews; McNeil, McFadden (c) (Byrne-Hewitt 45), Gafaiti, Awuah (Efete 24); Grant; E Bennett, Norman; Hall-Johnson; Josh Murphy, Morris. Subs not used: Killip (GK), Cole, Fox.

ATTENDANCE: 136

REFEREE: Ian Dudley

GILL DELIGHTED WITH WIN

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