Taking the lead against Norwich City has sent Lowestoft Town into the rest of their pre-season preparations in good heart.

The Trawlerboys host local rivals Kirkley & Pakefield today (3pm), following on from last weekend's visit of the Canaries, losing Micky Chapman's delayed testimonial game 5-1.

Travis Cole had bundled home to give the Isthmian Premier side the lead in the 21st minute though, after Rory McAuley had headed down an Ollie Humphrey free-kick, before City moved through the gears to lead 3-1 by the break.

It was a memorable day in the sunshine at the Amber Dew Events Stadium, as club legend Chapman finally got his big day, after the first attempt was washed out a year ago.

Report: Lowestoft Town 1 Norwich City 5 – Canaries bounce back from early slip to cruise past Blues in Micky Chapman's testimonial

'I really felt the last two years that storm clouds just seemed to be hanging around the club and that was probably typified by this friendly being rained off last season,' Lowestoft boss Ady Gallagher said.

'Our situation has been well documented but our situation now is we've got to bring young players in and try to progress them, that's what we're trying to do.

'Obviously we've lost Ryan Jarvis and Chris Henderson but there's a really nice feeling around the club, a nice buzz, with the young players we've got in.

'We've still got boys like Rossi Jarvis and Andrew Fisk to come back into the squad, along with Adam Smith, so that experience, along with everything we've done (against Norwich) puts us in good shape really.

'We've got a lot of hard work to do but I feel there's some real unity building in the dressing room and that's a nice platform to build on. This performance gives us all a little bit of hope, that actually we can compete against good sides for long periods and to take the lead was Roy of the Rovers stuff really.'

More: Lowestoft Town legend Micky Chapman grateful to Norwich City for 'emotional' testimonial

Former Hartlepool United keeper Ben Dudzinski impressed for the Blues following his summer arrival.

'Ben was fantastic throughout the game,' Gallagher added. 'There was a lot of chat and he was a safe pair of hands, that's exactly why we took the chance in the summer, we're really pleased to have him.'