IAN Fancett's second half goal earned Thetford Town a 1-0 win over Norwich City's Under-21s in the Fourth Round of the Norfolk Senior Cup.

The substitute struck against the run of play to ensure the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side's progression to the quarter-finals at the expense of the Canaries.

It was a hard-fought victory for the Brecklanders, who were on the back foot after an even first period and held on under pressure at the end.

"It was a different test for us tonight and obviously we're disappointed with the result in the end," said City's Professional Development Coach Paul Wilkinson after the game.

"It's a good learning curve for them because we don't come up against teams like Thetford every week. We have no complaints at all, at the end of the day it was a tough game like we knew it was going to be."

On a difficult playing surface, both teams struggled in a poor first half before Jamie Eaton-Collins forced a fine stop from Scott Cruickshank seven minutes before the break.

Thetford's attacking forays had tricky winger Ben Anderson at the heart, yet the interval arrived with neither outfit deserving any advantage.

Cameron Norman's slip early in the second half allowed Anderson a run at goal, but he pushed his effort just wide and from then on the Canaries began to dominate the ball.

Just when it looked like they might get the crucial opening goal, however, Fancett pounced after some hesitant defending by Adel Gafaiti and slotted the ball neatly beyond Remi Matthews.

City resumed on the front foot and twice went close when Ray Grant well-struck was blocked and Reece Hall-Johnson saw a reaction header rebound off the bar from Carlton Morris' volley.

Norman's sliced effort in stoppage time was their last shot at levelling, though, and it was Thetford who progressed to the delight of the 237-strong crowd.

GOALS: Brecklanders: Ian Fancett (71)

NORWICH CITY: Matthews (c); Norman, Fox, Gafaiti, Efete (Simpson 85); Hall-Johnson, Grant, McGeehan, Lewis (Boateng 63); Morris, Eaton-Collins (Byrne-Hewitt 56). Subs not used: Oxborough (GK), Black.

ATTENDANCE: 237

SENIOR CUP REPORT: THETFORD 1-0 UNDER-21s

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