Norwich United FC Res

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Season 2011 - 2012

Debenham LC FC

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Ridgeons Reserves League
North Division
Debenham LC FC Reserves v Norwich United FC Reserves
1st October 2011
Maitlands Football Ground Debenham Leisure Centre

Back in their familiar yellow & black Debenham Reserves took on Norwich United in their vivid all red kit. Fortunately for the crowd and management staff alike the scorching weather meant that most were sporting sunglasses.
Both sides were fielding a majority of youth players and as a result, despite the heat, early exchanges were somewhat frenetic and lacking structure with neither side creating clear chances or dominating key areas.
On 11mins Debenham had their first real chance when Seccombe’s floated ball released Teeder, his low shot well blocked by the keeper. Minutes later the same pair combined again, this time the shot going just wide.
On 15mins Norwich broke the deadlock when Seccombe was dispossessed allowing the No. 7 to be put through on goal. His low shot across Chilvers finding the net from a tight angle. 0-1.
Minutes later they extended their lead when the defence failed to deal with a bustling run from the Red’s no.9, the ball broke to the no.8. His Gerard-like strike from the edge of the area giving Chilvers no chance, 0-2 with barely 20mins gone.
Within minutes Debenham struck back through a Steve Burton. His opportunistic high looping shot from a throw-in on the left leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. 1-2.
This was followed soon after by N. Smith, shooting just wide after after latching onto a through ball and Seccombe’s heading the wrong side of the left-hand upright.
With the temperature rising the pace remained relentless. A neat one-two between Seccombe and Burton saw the former’s effort blocked on the line by the keepers legs.
Unfortunately, late summer madness prevailed when on 36mins Barker miscontrolled a back-pass that put his keeper in all sorts of troubleand when the ball fell to the incredulous Norwich striker he duly tapped home. 1-3.
More chances were created at both ends, the closest notably when the Red no.4 was fortunate not to head into his own net, but the energetic half was brought to a close with Debenham ruing three lapses in concentration.

Half Time Debenham LC FC Reserves 1 Norwich United FC Reserves 3

With all to do Debenham needed to settle early, slow the tempo and take control of the game. Johnson relishing his midfield role was desperately unlucky not to get more on Smith’s exquisite free-kick. Burton and then Johnson again had efforts blocked on the line from Smith’s well placed dead-ball kicks.
On 63mins a tiring Burton was replaced by the experienced Conway who almost scored with his first touch, a shot on the turn.
Debenham continued to edge ahead in terms of possession and territory, but were struggling to create clear chances for the front men from open play. Until that is on 73mins when Bowler lofted over the defence and found Seccombe unmarked on the left. This time the U18 finished the job, chipping the keeper with a coolness belying his years. 2-3.
With Barker, Gedny, Hambling and King keeping the Norwich attack quiet, the midfield outplaying their counterparts and the strikers working tirelessly, play was predominantly within the opposition half. An equaliser however was proving elusive and when Teeder headed wide and Smith, put through on goal suffered momentary indecision to be denied time seemed to be slipping away.
Deep into stoppage time the Norwich no.9 was dismissed for a rash challenge, his second bookable offence. From the resultant free-kick Debenham mounted their final assault, forcing another free-kick wide on the right. The left footed N. Smith swung in a high inviting kick to the far post that somehow managed to avoid everyone to give the no.9 a deserved goal and Debenham just deserves for a fine display of spirit and commitment.