U18s Report: Norwich 2-1 Saints

Javen Siu scored a stunner before half-time, giving Saints a deserved route back in to the game, but the points were snatched away from grasp by Anthony Spyrou who fired the winner midway through the second period.

The visitors were lively from the off, buoyed by a resounding win over league leaders Chelsea a fortnight ago. Confident in possession, Will Smallbone was dictating play from the middle third, while Harlem Hale and Will Ferry were getting joy in the wide areas.

Goalscorer Siu, operating in a more advanced role, crafted Saints' first chance of the day, using the greasy surface to fizz a ball in to the path of Michael Obafemi in the eighth minute.

Using a turn of pace to power past his opposing defender, the striker went one on one with Jon McCracken, but saw his low shot cannon off the legs of the resolute Canaries 'keeper.

While Saints were dominating the tally of chances, they were punished from a routine set-play as Louis Lomas was found free in the area. The centre-half powered home his header with accuracy, leaving the visitors trailing.

Smallbone had a chance to restore parity in the 25th minute, guiding a characteristically well struck free-kick goalwards from 20 yards, before Siu drew Saints deservedly level on the half-hour mark.

Found on the edge of the area, the midfielder cleverly manoeuvred a yard of space for the shot, before firing in to the top corner, leaving McCracken stranded. And Obafemi could have edged Saints in front moments later, drilling a low shot millimetres off target, as the ball skewed dangerously off the woodwork.

The home side retook the lead shortly after the break, easing in front from another well worked corner. Wing man Alan Fleming delivered a cross square to Spyrou in the box, who calmly guided the ball home in the 52nd minute.

Some heroics from Alex Cull in the Saints upright kept Norwich at bay late in the second half, as frontman Adam Idah looked set to seal the points. Cull dived acrobatically to his left, palming the shot to safety, before Obafemi had the chance to clinch a point at the death after rounding McCracken, but couldn't squeeze the ball home.