CHRIS LAKEY A strong Canaries second string side was unable to halt the Ipswich juggernaut at Carrow Road last night, as their arch rivals from across the border made it a magnificent seven wins from seven outings.

CHRIS LAKEY

A strong Canaries second string side was unable to halt the Ipswich juggernaut at Carrow Road last night, as their arch rivals from across the border made it a magnificent seven wins from seven outings.

Town have yet to drop a point in defence of their Pontins Holiday Combination East Division crown - and never looked in danger of slipping up in an embarrassing derby showdown.

A three-goal lead ended the match as a contest by half-time, although City reserve team boss Paul Stephenson - who saw his team reduced to 10 men when Michael Spillane was sent off - will be more concerned at preserving the match fitness of players manager Glenn Roeder may need to call upon during the festive season.

There was a scare on that score early in the second half when Luke Chadwick appeared to suffer a recurrence of his shoulder problem, although his substitution was more of a precautionary measure.

There was no place for Julien Brellier in the City squad, although there were plenty of other senior men on show, many of whom have fallen out of favour with Roeder, including Ian Murray, Simon Lappin and Chris Brown, while Bally Smart was back at Carrow Road after a loan spell with League Two leaders MK Dons.

City started well enough, but after an initial burst, Town managed to fill a few gaps at the back and, with 17 minutes gone took the lead, Jaime Peters sending in a right-foot half volley from 15 yards which beat keeper Ashley Timms.

Three minutes later it was 2-0, Jordan Rhodes picking up a pass from Liam Trotter, rounding the keeper and slotting into an empty net.

Brown pulled a shot wide from 18 yards while Smart volleyed one straight at keeper Lewis Ward from the same distance and Chris Martin saw an effort disallowed for pulling back Town defender Chris Casement.

But it was Town who broke through again, in the 42nd minute, Trotter setting up the overlapping Rhodes, whose shot was parried by Timms before crossing the line, despite Murray's attempts to hook it clear.

It went from bad to worse after the break, Spillane seeing red on 58 minutes for an over-the-top tackle on Michael Synnott, and Trotter (64) and Ed Upson (75) giving Ipswich a 5-0 lead before Paul Watson deflected a cross past his own keeper to put City on the scoresheet.

t Norwich: Timms, Spillane, Halliday, Murray, Lappin (Cave-Brown 82), Chadwick (Eagle 51), Lathrope, Jarvis, Smart (Strihavka 69), Brown, Martin. Subs not used: Miller, Kelly.

t Ipswich: Ward, Synnott (Clemo 64), Casement, Watson, Robinson, Peters, Barnett, Trotter, Upson, Roberts, Rhodes. Subs not used: Reason, Williams, Murphy, Tooms.

t Referee: M Stewart. Attendance: 2,097.