Norwich City eased to a gentle pre-season opener in a 7-0 cruise at Thurlow Nunn Premier Division neighbours Gorleston.

Alex Neil named two different line ups for each half in front of a record attendance at Emerald Park, and it was the top flight side who predictably had too much firepower for the battling hosts.

Cameron Jerome grabbed a first half hat-trick with Tony Andreu and Vadis Odjidja also on target before the interval for the Premier League visitors.

Lewis Grabban added a sixth and Jonny Howson completed the victory when he slammed home in the 72nd minute.

John Ruddy captained the first half side. Louis Thompson had his first outing in a Norwich strip sitting alongside Graham Dorrans, with Andreu given licence to support Jerome. Thompson's recent Swindon team-mate Harry Toffolo started at left-back with Martin Olsson still on the comeback trail after shoulder surgery.

Andreu had the first shot of note with a dipping effort parried by the Taurean Molloy after Jerome's lay-off. City opened their account in the fourth minute with a calm finish rolled inside the bottom corner from Dorrans' initial burst before picking out the unmarked striker.

Thompson's mis-control offered Gorleston a reprieve when Andreu had burst down the right onto Jerome's initial flick.

Norwich continued to dictate possession with Jerome doubling his tally in the ninth minute with a dipping volley.

Josh Murphy sliced wide from inside the Greens' penalty with the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side understandably struggling to cope with Norwich's movement.

Gorleston saw a fleeting glimpse of attacking promise disappear when Keegan Middleton was unable to collect Ally McKenna's pass after the frontman had harried Ignasi Miquel.

Gorleston's keeper then denied the on-rushing Josh Murphy before Andreu's intended clip dropped at this feet.

Andreu then backheeled Ryan Bennett's towering header wide from a close range corner midway through the opening period with the Frenchman prominent in the opening quarter.

The former Hamilton playmaker earned his reward in the 26th minute with an instinctive angled finish that nestled inside the bottom corner following Jerome's persistence.

Josh Murphy clipped over shortly after from Ryan Bennett's teasing long range pass. The England youth international was denied by the busy Molloy's feet after latching onto Miquel's powerful headed clearance.

Jerome completed his hat-trick in the 31st minute with another composed low finish that beat the diving Gorleston keeper.

Norwich were now toying with their non league neighbours and Odjidja held off his man to collect Dorrans' chip and lob over the stranded stopper for the visitors' fifth.

The home keeper parried Dorrans' dipping free kick in the closing stages of a one-sided friendly but Jerome hooked the rebound over.

Elliott Bennett tumbled over Liam Brown's leg inside the Gorleston box but the referee waved play on, which prompted a wry smile from Neil at the front of his technical area.

Gorleston's number one earned warm applause for holding onto Dorrans' low strike on his left with City continuing to sharpen their sights in the final third.

Neil unveiled a new-look side for the start of the second half. Seb Bassong was partnered with Michael Turner at the back with Gary Hooper and Grabban operating in tandem at the top end of the pitch.

Turner almost marked his introduction with a sixth but Gorleston's centre back fortuitously headed against the underside of his own bar and the Greens scrambled clear.

Grabban tried his luck with a speculative close range effort but the hosts remained resolute in the opening minutes after the interval.

The City substitute did make in six in the 69th minute after a prolonged period of resistance from the hosts was ended with a low, guided far post finish from Jacob Murphy's cross.

Bradley Johnson tried to catch out Connor Harris but George Macrae collected his follow up but Howson got in on the act when he slammed home from 12 yards after following up Hooper's back heel.

Gary O'Neil then thundered a right-footed strike against the bar with the hosts understandably feeling the pace entering the final quarter.

Turner headed against the foot of a post with the Greens riding their luck as City continued to commit men forward.

Hooper's impudent flick was hacked off the home line after swerving through three defenders in a confined space.

Macrae denied Norwich an eighth in the closing stages with a fine point blank reaction stop to foil Grabban.

• Gorleston (first half): Molloy, Clements, Taylor, Plumstead, Brown, Goreham, Middleton, Cockrill, K Ingram, McKenna, Watts.

• Norwich City (first half): Ruddy, E Bennett, R Bennett, Miquel, Toffolo, Thompson, Dorrans, Andreu, Odjidja, Josh Murphy, Jerome.

• Norwich City (second half): Rudd, McGrandles, Bassong, Turner, Hall-Johnson, O'Neil, Howson, Johnson, Jacob Murphy, Hooper, Grabban.

• Goals: Jerome (4, 9, 31), Andreu (26), Odjidja (34), Grabban (69), Howson (72)

• Gorleston (second half): MacRae, Clements, Harris, Cockrill, Hunn, Applegate, McKay, Eagleton, Stanton, King, C Ingram.

• Referee: Mike George

• Attendance: 2,400 (approx)