An injury time goal by Danny Kelly, seizing onto an inviting low pass from Paul McVeigh, gave Norwich Reserves victory at Roots Hall.

An injury time goal by Danny Kelly, seizing onto an inviting low pass from Paul McVeigh, gave Norwich Reserves victory at Roots Hall.

Ian Crook fielded a strong line-up, which including a fit-again Adam Drury, Owain Tudur-Jones, Matty Gill and Stephen Hughes against Ricky Duncan's youthful Southend line-up.

Luke Daley brought the best out of Kelvin Jack in the home goal within seconds of the kick-off, and Jack was forced into another fine save when Tom Adeyemi let fly with his left boot. City keeper Declan Rudd was brought into action as Southend responded in a match played throughout at a blistering pace. But Jack was undoubtedly the busier goalkeeper, making a brave save at the feet of McVeigh just before the interval.

Norwich made a double substitution midway through the second half when Josh Dawkin and George Francomb came on for Drury and Daley. Dawkin made an immediate impact, first blazing over and then, after a neat through ball by Gill, being cleverly denied by an excellent challenge from Adetayo Osifuwa.

By then Southend had been forced to bring on their substitute keeper Danny Bentley, due to an injury sustained by Jack - and he was quickly tested by McVeigh.

Adeyemi, having a fine match in midfield, also tested Bentley after weaving his way forward. And Dawkin forced another fine save in the last minute of regulation time - only for McVeigh and Kelly to provide a dramatic finale.

t Southend Res: Jack (Bentley 65), Osifuwa, Herd, Kerr, Sankofa, Whittaker, Milner, Grant (Dennis 65), Spencer, Crawford, Okai (Hazell 78). Subs not used: Culver, O'Keefe.

t Norwich Res: Rudd, Spillane, Drury (Dawkin 63), Tudur Jones, Askou, Gill, Adeyemi, Hughes, D Kelly, McVeigh, Daley (Francomb 63). Unused subs: Lathrope, Steer, Stephens.