Norwich United 3, Walsham-le-Willows 0Norwich United's manager Paul Chick was delighted with back-to-back victories.He was not only pleased with the performance but also with his side's ability to cope with missing key players.

Norwich United 3, Walsham-le-Willows 0

Norwich United's manager Paul Chick was delighted with back-to-back victories.

He was not only pleased with the performance but also with his side's ability to cope with missing key players.

“We had to make three changes from last Saturday's win, so it was pleasing to record our first back to back league wins of the season, the only disappointment is that it wasn't over by half-time,” he said.

The Planters led at the break through goals from Paul Atkins and Steve Shipley.

Atkins saw a second half penalty saved and Andrew Claydon sealed the victory with a third goal six minutes from time.

“The penalty save gave Walsham renewed hope and we had to cope with a bit of pressure, but we defended admirably, Danny Tacon (in for the injured Darren Coe) did really given that was his first first-team game for ages” added Chick.

Coe was joined by George Wilson on the injury list and with Justin Fox and Chris Squires unavailable Ricci Butler and Danny Tacon were called up with Jordan Blyth returning from the injury which sidelined him at Debenham.

The Planters were on top from the off and could have taken an early lead when Atkins took advantage of a defensive mistake, but his shot from a very acute angle flashed wide of the far post.

Claydon headed over from a Lee Hunter cross and Blyth went close twice in the space of a minute his first shot deflected for a corner and when the flag-kick was returned at the far post by Atkins, Blyth saw his shot hit Walsham keeper Duncan McAnally.

The keeper was soon in action again as he touched Ricci Butler's shot from outside the box wide of the post.

Walsham nearly punished the Planters for not taking their chances when Ben Nower had to push wide James Tatham's header from a free kick on the right and a minute later Ben Furlong did well to prevent Liam Bolton reaching Richard Partridge's cross to the far post.

The Planters thought they had taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Atkins unleashed a firm strike from the right-hand corner of the area, but the ball came back into play off the foot of McAnally's post.

Within two minutes the Planters were in front, a free kick on the left 25 yards from goal was touched by Atkins to Hunter who struck a firm drive which flew inside the near post, leaving McAnally no chance.

Five minutes later and the Planters had doubled their advantage, Hunter's left-wing corner was flicked on at the near post by Danny Tacon and Steve Shipley headed home from a central position.

Straight after the break the Planters almost extended their lead when Furlong's cross from the left found Hunter at the far post but a poor first touch gave the defence time to close and his shot was blocked.

The Planters could have sealed Walsham's fate in the 53rd minute, Claydon pounced on a mistake by Trevor Newman and released Atkins into the penalty area only for the striker to be sent crashing by Matt Morton.

Atkins picked himself up but saw his spot-kick saved by McAnally.

Walsham stepped up their game but with the defence standing strong few chances came their way and at the other end the Planters were still looking the more likely to score, Blyth heading narrowly wide from Atkins corss.

Danny Tacon produced a fine tackle to deny Tatham and at the other end Hunter's whipped cross in saw Atkins able to get ahead of his marker but the ball hit his chest and went narrowly wide.

Walsham's Simon Head went close with a shot from 20 yards out wide on the right but the ball hit the outside of the post and went behind.

The Planters finally sealed the points in the 84th minute. Hunter was set free down the right, his jinking run into the box saw him reach the byline and he picked out Claydon at the far post who touched home from close range.

In the closing minutes Chick introduced Sam Applegate and Matty Sharpe for their first-team debuts.

Norwich United: Nower, McCabe, Furlong, D Tacon, J Wilson, Shipley, Hunter (Applegate 90), Butler (M Tacon 87), Claydon (Sharpe 93), Blyth, Atkins. Unused sub: T Jeal.

Walsham-le-Willows: McAnally, Morton, North, Head, Newman, Sim, Bolton, Partridge, Brown, Tatham, Attwood. Unused subs: Brame, Fenner, Musgrove, Brock.

Referee: A Tyne. Assistants: P Goldsmith and M Kurudere.

Attendance: 85.