Norwich City Reserves 2, Southend Reserves 4

Norwich City Reserves 2, Southend Reserves 4

With Keith Webb unavailable for last night's reserve team fixture against Southend United at Carrow Road, Martin Hunter took charge of proceedings as City's second string went down 4-2 against the Shrimpers.

The opening 15 minutes of the game saw the Canaries rain shots down on the visitors' goal with Chris Martin going closest of all when Southend keeper Joe Welch had to turn a stinging shot round for a corner. It was, however, Southend who made the breakthrough on 19 minutes when Mitchell Cole showed City full back Matthieu Louis-Jean a clean pair of heels before sending in a low cross that Lee Bradbury fired into the roof of the net.

City hit back just five minutes later, a move that was started and finished by the lively Andrew Fisk. The City midfielder threaded the ball through to Asmat El Ouargui, with the Dane beating his man before picking out Fisk who finished from close range. With 32 minutes on the clock Southend re-established their lead when Louis-Jean fouled Franck Moussa allowing Bradbury to step up and send City keeper Joe Lewis the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Deep in first half stoppage time the visitors scored their third when Lewis appeared to have a shot from James Lawson well covered, but the City keeper somehow spilled the ball into his own net.

City replied five minutes after the break when Ryan Jarvis finished a cross from Robert Eagle when he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

The visitors completed the scoring on 54 minutes when Lawson was left unmarked at the far post for a simple tap in that Lewis did manage to get a hand to.

City had chances to reduce the arrears late in the game with Eagle seeing a 25-yard effort turned onto the crossbar by Welch.

t Norwich City: Lewis, Louis-Jean, Bexfield, Fisk, Spillane, Halliday (Quaye 45), Smart, Martin, El Ouargui (Lathrope 57), Ryan Jarvis, Eagle. Subs not used: Arnold, Muddel, Eames.

t Southend United: Welch, Patten, Wilson, Moussa, Hopkins, Kearns, Smith, Lawson, Bradbury, Cowley, Cole (Henry 57). Subs not used: Noel, Herd.