CCFC 3 Boro 0

Team Line-up: McMeckan, Harris, Higgins, Boucher, Seecharan N (45), Perrett (60), Tett, Slater, Bennett, Gallagher, Barrett, Davies (45), Jelbert (60)

The Capital Canaries continued their dream start to the season with goals from in-form forwards Gallagher and Barrett. The unexpected striking duo has tallied 7 in two games to take a solid looking Norwich joint top.

The first half demolition of Middlesbrough was enough to gain the points for the canaries though a spirited fight back from the north eastern outfit was enough to give the boys in yellow a few late frights. If it were not for the acrobatic brilliance of McMeckan in the home team’s onion bag the score line may not have ended so favourably for the home side.

A goal bound effort had to be expertly turned around the post by the keeper known fondly as Marlene by the home fans to ensure his side’s first clean sheet of the season.
The game started brightly for Norwich with Barrett latching onto two through balls within the first five minutes only to miss the target with the make-shift Middlesbrough keeper bearing down on the striker, the intent for the game was signalled. The 3 man midfield brilliance gave the visitors no chance, winning every 50/50 and supplying the strike force with wave after wave of chances.

Any opportunities Middlesbrough had in the first half were few and far between with the Norwich defence ensuring all shots were from a distance. Gallagher opened the scoring with a neat finish across the goalkeeper. Opening up to use the instep of the right boot from an acute angle on the left, the goal was just rewards for a striker who worked tirelessly chasing the through balls so often delivered by the midfielders Tett and Bennett, a forceful pairing ensuring the trademark Norwich short passing game was stamped on proceedings.

Barrett provided further warnings of things to come for the visitors as a sublime cross from Slater was met by the leaping salmon only to be dismissed for a corner by the gloves of the impending keeper. Shortly afterwards Barrett stumbled into the path of the ball, and seeing no support drove purposely forward, cutting inside on his favoured left foot drilling a daisy cutter from 18 yards into the depths of the ‘boro goal.
Numerous corners and free kicks followed as the visiting side felt the pressure of a classy Norwich outfit with the bit between their teeth. The onslaught continued with Gallagher threatening from Slater through balls and Seecheran linking the play nicely down the right hand side.

All play was initiated from the cultured boots of the back three of Harris, Higgins and Boucher, showing not only a dogged determination to keep a clean sheet but a quality rarely seen of defenders to initiate play with intelligence and guile. Out on the left Perrett found himself with both time and space to pick his passes, his sidewinder-esque turns succeeded in humiliating the Boro right back to provide further ammunition with which the forwards fired. Barrett’s second goal reflected the gulf in quality of the teams; the converted wing-back out muscled Henry, the Middlesbrough gaffer, in the midfield and progressed forwards with a swing of the cultured left foot caught the visiting keeper unawares as he could only parry the ball into the side netting.

The second half proved to be an altogether more even affair, Slater coming closest to adding a fourth for Norwich with a technically sound right foot volley from 12 yards after a comedy of errors in the boro box. Davies added an alternative option up front showing glimpses of the threat he poses with both power and determination. Middlesbrough showed some drive and purpose forcing corners and a duo of superb saves from Marlene.
Jelbert continued the good work of Perrett on the right providing more crosses and neat footwork for the fans to enjoy. The two sorts on the sideline were later heard to remark the ‘one with the long hair’ likes a whinge.

Boro evidently found the quality and pace of the Norwich team too much to handle with some rash challenges going largely unpunished by the referee. A card was eventually shown to the boro centre half in the 88th minute for ‘an accumulation’ of poor tackles leaving some canaries justifiably crying ‘ooh ref’.

In the end a job well done for the Capital Canaries who will look to build on their impressive start to the season in their next game in a fortnight’s time.

MoTM: Gappy