Norwich City U18 1, Portsmouth U18 0

John Landamore

FA Premier Academy U18 League

Norwich City U18 1, Portsmouth U18 0

Full credit to all concerned that this game actually went ahead as Colney had a good covering of snow this morning but with Portsmouth having travelled on Friday the referee decided after two pitch inspections to give the thumbs up and while Mr Smith had to suspend proceedings once in each half because of driving snow the game was finally completed be it 30 minutes late. Tuesday's hat-trick hero Luke Daley started the game on the substitutes bench while fresh from his recent Welsh U19 outings in Turkey David Stephens was back in the starting line up.

As the game got underway it became clear that the tricky conditions would play a big part in the game with the ball picking up snow as it was played along the ground. Despite having most of the early possession it was Pompey who had the first attempt on goal when Tom Kilbey fired just wide of Declan Rudd's goal. Shortly before the half hour mark Mr Smith took both teams into the indoor arena as heavy snow swept across the pitch. When the finally re-emerged the Canaries got quickly back into their stride and they opened the scoring on 35 minutes when Stephens combined well with Kenny Reeves before captain Korey Smith sent in a delightful cross that KRIS RENTON volleyed into the net to add to the goal he scored against Arsenal at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.

Ricky Martin introduced Daley and Tom Adeyemi at the start of the second half but it was the visitors who made the first opening with Rudd having to produce a good save to deny Paris Conan-Hall while moments later Pablo Navis fired a shot wide of the far post. Daley looked to add to the three goals he scored against the Gunners but Liam O'Brien produced a good save before Mr Smith called a temporary halt to proceedings for the second time. Portsmouth stepped their game up in the final 15 minutes of the game and Rudd frustrated them with a couple of fine saves, the last coming with virtually the last kick of the match.

t Norwich City: Rudd, Smith, Brindley, Omoregi, Stephens, Dumic, Clarke, Lathrope (Adeyemi 45), Renton (Daley 45), Reeves, Dawkin.

Subs not used: Ball, Webb, Gordon.

t Portsmouth: O'Brien, Gregory, Blackman, Pack, Mantyla, Reynolds, Nlundulu, Martin (Ciftci 70), Conan-Hall, Kilbey, Navas (Smith 70).

Subs not used: Gazet, Bogard, Price.

t Norwich City MoM: Korey Smith.