CHRIS LAKEY Canaries boss Glenn Roeder received a welcome injury boost last night when Gary Doherty and Mark Fotheringham came through a Reserve game with no ill effects.

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries boss Glenn Roeder received a welcome injury boost last night when Gary Doherty and Mark Fotheringham came through a Reserve game with no ill effects.

Central defender Doherty has missed the last seven City games with a groin injury, while Fotheringham has been sidelined since August with ankle ligament damage.

Last night's 65 minute outings for the pair were the first that Roeder had seen of them since his arrival last month - and their performances will go some way to softening the blow caused by the loss of Adam Drury for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Matty Gilks for 10 weeks.

City took the lead in the Pontin's Holiday Combination clash on 21 minutes when defender Rossi Jarvis cut in from the left and fired in an unstoppable shot from 18 yards.

Midfielder Jimmy Smith made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 28 minutes after Northampton's Giles Coke handled in the area.

Northampton pulled a goal back on 35 minutes after an excellent turn and shot by Wes Emery.

James Hollman, the goalkeeping coach called up because of Roeder's lack of options with the number one shirt, did well to keep out a Coke shot early in the second half, but was well beaten on 50 minutes when Joe Benjamin made it 2-2 from close range.

Fotheringham made his mark six minutes later with a perfectly delivered free-kick from the left which got a touch from a visiting defender before sneaking in off the far post to give City the lead again. Doherty almost made a mark of his own with a sloppy back pass, but Emery failed to make the most of his opportunity.

David Strihavka made it 4-2 in the 64th minute when he stooped to turn in a Jarvis cross from the left and substitute Luke Daley wrapped up a good night for City's second string with the final goal in time added on.

t Norwich Res: Hollman, Bexfield, Doherty (Miller 65), Halliday, Eagle, Kelly, Smith, Fotheringham (O'Toole 65), Jarvis, Strihavka, Yong (Daley 83). Subs not used: Lathrope, McLean.

t Northampton Res: Bankole, Maude, Avill, Dyer, Jones, Haines, Taylor, Coke (Suckling 53), Benjamin, Goodall, Emery (Richard 80). Subs not used: Oulton, Judd, Marzetti.

t Att: 1,148.

t Ref: R Whitton