Norwich United 1, CRC 3Three goals in the first 18 minutes proved to be enough for Ridgeons Premier Division leaders CRC to take all three points at Plantation Park this afternoon.

Norwich United 1, CRC 3

Three goals in the first 18 minutes proved to be enough for Ridgeons Premier Division leaders CRC to take all three points at Plantation Park this afternoon.

Although the Planters more than matched their visitors in the remainder of the game they only had Paul Atkins' 59th minute goal to show for their efforts as their unbeaten start to 2010 came to an end.

CRC had already spurned a good opportunity, when Liam Hughes blasted high over the bar from the edge of the area, before they took a ninth-minute lead.

A corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Hughes and the ball found its way to the far post where Jordan Patrick bundled it home.

Three minutes later and CRC had doubled their lead, Ben Furlong with a good tackle denied Adam Marriott but the ball was crossed in from the right and Jack Bailey's header appeared to be heading for the top corner until Ben Nower pushed it wide. But Patrick crossed from the left and this time Bailey made no mistake, heading home at the far post.

The third came in the 18th minute when Adam Marriott ran onto a long cross-field ball and produced a delightful lob to leave Nower stranded.

Almost immediately the Planters sparked into life and Furlong made a good interception in midfield took the ball to the edge of the area before shooting wide.

Justin Fox, making his debut after recently signing, played a free kick from wide of the left toward the near post and Andrew Claydon's flick hit the CRC bar.

CRC seemed to be content to sit on their lead and the Planters despite having plenty of possession were able to create few chances although Atkins headed wide at the far post after good work down the right between Fox, Jordan Blyth, Claydon and Lee Hunter.

The second half continued to see the Planters striving to get back into the game and Claydon set Hunter free down the right, the winger's cross was punched clear by Martin Davies with Claydon and Blyth poised to pounce.

Steve Shipley was next to go close with a speculative chip toward the top corner pushed round the post by Davies, and from the corner Jamie Wilson's header was cleared off the line by Hughes.

The Planters finally got their goal just before the hour mark, a good ball by Fox released Hunter down the right and as the ball was returned into the area Fox was sent crashing and Atkins sent the keeper the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick.

A good turn by Fox saw Shipley fire a strong drive which went wide of the post, Blyth just missing the header which would have sent it on target. Shipley also saw a header from a corner fly over the bar.

CRC did have some attacks of their own, Marriott shooting wide when well placed and Patrick forcing a good save from Nower in injury time.

Norwich United: Nower, Squires (McCabe 75), Furlong, Coe, J Wilson, Shipley, Hunter, Fox, Claydon, Blyth (G Wilson 78), Atkins (Butler 90). Unused subs: T Jeal, D Tacon.

CRC: Davies, Thorpe, Brighton, Bevan, Hudson, Hughes, Eades (Bennett 69), Berry, Bailey (Igglesden 69), Marriott (Tonks 90), Patrick. Unused subs: England, Allen.

Referee: J Kelly. Assistants: G High and M Timmins.

Attendance: 106.