Norwich City ended Fulham under 23’s unbeaten home league record with an impressive victory at Motspur Park last night as the Canaries came from behind to beat the champions thanks to a brilliant brace from Tony Springett.
The visitors gave their own Premier League 2 Division Two promotion hopes a serious shot in the arm with a win on a wet and windy evening at Fulham’s training ground as they ended Steve Wigley’s side’s five match winning run with a performance that mixed guts and guile. Norwich weathered an early spell of home pressure that saw keeper Dylan Berry race off his line to clear a threatening Sonny Hilton through ball and Luke Harris shoot wide from Hilton’s cross.
The Canaries hadn’t simply come to defend. They felt they should have had a penalty from one of their first attacks as Abu Kamara went down under a challenge from Ibane Bowat, but the referee was unmoved. Norwich went close from a free-kick with Christos Tzolis striking the wall with a venomous effort and Nelson Khumbeni volleying the rebound fractionally over. At the other end, Ziyad Larkeche drilled over the top after Berry had punched away a corner.
The Norwich goalkeeper then kept out Olly Sanderson and Adrion Pajaziti in quick succession but the hosts did take the lead eight minutes before the break. Larkeche supplied a superb through ball to send Ollie O’Neill through on goal and the Irish under-21 international kept his cool to beat Berry through his legs with a precise finish. But Fulham’s advantage were wiped out from Norwich’s next attack. Tzolis found Sprigett with a clever switch of play and his effort had too much power for Alex Borto at his near post.
The second half was just as open. In an end-to-end start, Hilton went close with an angled drive before Borto smothered an effort from Saxon Earley after excellent approach play from Tzolis. The Greek winger nearly put Norwich in front midway through the second period when he cut inside and shot wide. Stansfield saw an ambitious long-range effort easily gathered by Berry, but Norwich were beginning to dominate. Borto saved bravely from substitute Flynn Clarke and Jonathan Tomkinson headed over from the ensuing corner.
The visitors deservedly went in front with fifteen minutes to play. Clarke found Springett in the Fulham penalty area and Irish winger showed commendable control before making the most of being afforded plenty of space by powering his second of the evening past Borto.
FULHAM UNDER 23s (4-2-3-1): Borto; D’Auria-Henry (Dibley-Dias 86), Larkeche, Bowat (C. Robinson 76), Odutayo; Francois, Pajaziti; Hilton, O’Neill, Harris (Sanderson 24); Stansfield. Sub (not used): Adams.
BOOKED: Pajaziti, Bowat.
GOAL: O’Neill (37).
NORWICH CITY UNDER 23s (4-3-3): Berry; Giurgi, Stewart (Shipley 66), Tomkinson, Warner; Gibbs, Khumbeni (Clarke 66), Earley (Matos 90+2); Springett, Tzolis, Kamara. Subs (not used): Rose, Hills.
BOOKED: Clarke.
GOALS: Springett (40, 75).
