John Landamore City's Academy side followed up their impressive victory over Fulham in midweek with a share of the points with Aston Villa at Colney today.

John Landamore

FA Premier Academy U18 League: Norwich City U18 2, Aston Villa U18 2

City's Academy side followed up their impressive victory over Fulham in midweek with a share of the points with Aston Villa at Colney today.

Ricky Martin's side conceded an early goal but hit back with two first-half penalties before the visitors equalised late in the game but City would have felt they could have wrapped the game up inside the final few minutes but twice they were denied by the woodwork.

With Declan Rudd training with the first team ahead of Sunday's local derby at Portman Road, Steve Arnold took over the goalkeeper's jersey and was quickly called into action to save at the feet of Jason Lampkin.

But there was little the City stopper could do to prevent Villa taking the lead on eight minutes when ANDREAS WEIMANN was on hand with a far-post diving header to convert a free-kick.

Moments later Weimann almost made it two but Arnold managed to get the slightest of touches to turn the ball wide. City's first

opportunity of the game came when Sam Habergaham found Tom Adeyemi and his shot was only inches wide of the far post.

With 38 minutes on the clock City found themselves back on level terms when Jordan Dowdican was brought down inside the area and DAMON LATHROPE had no problems in converting the spot kick.

Deep inside first-half stoppage time City were awarded a second penalty, this time for hand- ball and Lathrope stood aside, allowing DAVID COOPER to fire City into a 2-1 lead.

The Canaries started the second half on the front foot with Luke Daley going close after some good build-up play while Arnold again denied Lampkin at the other end.

Villa were pulling out all the stops, looking for the equaliser and Harry Forrester almost did just that, but somehow he managed to blast over from just three yards.

But with 77 minutes on the clock MARK ALBRIGHTON did find the goal they were desperately looking for with an angled drive.

The game was still there to be won however, and it was City who almost secured all three points but both Corey Smith and Daley were denied by the woodwork.

Norwich City's Man of the Match: Damon Lathrope.

Norwich City: Arnold, Cooper (Dawkin 85), Habergaham, Lathrope, Miller, D Kelly, Adeyemi (Davey 72), Smith, Dowdican (Stephens 80), Daley, Smart. Sub not used: Richardson.

Ason Villa: Parish (Dau 65), Lichaj, Flanagan, Simmonds, Clark, Growcott (Collins 60), Lampkin, Forrester, Mikaelsson (Bannan 45), Weimann, Albrighton. Subs not used: Bradley, Baker.

t It was a similar tale for Norwich City's Under-16 side as they also battled out a 2-2 draw with Villa, both City goals coming via Manny Richardson.