Norwich inspired to destroy Ireland

Sunday 4th November

Football is a funny old game, and this week's man of the match was more
decided by two swings of a wand of a right boot rather than an entire match's
work. On a sunny autumn afternoon at the Civil Service sports ground, the
capacity crowd witnessed a pleasing result and hard working overall
performance for the Canaries. 5-0 was a fair reflection on the dominance that
the yellows showed, with the football gradually becoming more free flowing
this season after a slow start.

The Canaries lined up in familiar shape with Boucher, Wilson and Patterson
(eventually) returning to the side. Particularly pleasing to see Wilson back
in the starting XI, a clause found in his prenuptial agreement by Higgins'
lawyers led to the lovable Scot rejoining the central midfield trio. The
Canaries fielded a strong team despite still missing players such as Bennett
(back), Davies (stretchmarks), Richardson (Thai hooker), Tett (Fulham
nightspot), Revill (highlighting bleach burns), and Jelbert (ginger).

Ireland will have come to the Civil Service in confident mood, having proved a
thorn in the side of some top sides this year. Directly contributing to poor
Ranger's decline and narrowly losing to Bristol City & Hibs.

While Norwich could have been forgiven for letting first half events at Carrow
Rd sour the atmosphere of this vital APFSCIL encounter, there was nothing of
the sort witnessed as the game got underway at a relentless pace with both
sides having chances. Ireland competed well in the first 20 mins, forcing a
few corners and long distance efforts.

The first goal came in the wake of some sustained Ireland pressure. Norwich
quickly moved the ball out of defence and out to the left hand side to Every,
who cut inside and crossed into the box. The ball eluded both the Ireland
centre halves and the oncoming Norwich forwards before reaching Perrett at the
far post 15 yards from goal. He managed to middle it first time back across
the keeper, who would perhaps be disappointed to let it underneath him into
the far corner.

With Boucher doing a tremendous job as the midfield's defensive screen he
allowed Norwich's attacking players to stream forward now at every opportunity
and the second goal was another example of Norwich moving the ball quickly out
of defence and towards the Ireland goal. Following another Ireland attack,
Norwich got forward in numbers and when the ball reached the busy Stubbs on
the half way line he released a superb ball over the top for Perrett to latch
on to following a diagonal run towards the centre forward position from the
right hand side. Beating the offside trap and faced with a quickly on rushing
keeper, the little magician produced a moment of magic as he lifted the ball
over the keeper from 20 yards with a lofted effort which took an age to come
down into the far top corner. The Ireland keeper then brushed the snow off the
ball following the prolific midfielder's fourth of the season, and sensing the
game was near over, booted it back to the centre circle.

At 2-0 Paul made a vital save after an Ireland winger left Slater flat on his
arse. Surprisingly for the motivational expert, this was no-one else's fault.
Looks like the yoga is really paying off.

City went into half time two goals to the good and sensing their third win on
the spin in the league. Half time was all about the need to keep it tight and
not concede early, sensing that the job would get done up at the other end if
Norwich were sensible at the back. This is the way it turned out, with Howard
and co. turning in a solid second half's defending for City's first clean
sheet of the season. The team looked motivated and three further goals
followed in the second half.

The second half opened with some good Canaries attacks and the third goal to
finish the game as a contest was not long in coming. Every firing a clinical
finish into the bottom right corner after some good work by his strike
partner, Patterson.

By this time the game had become more stretched and the Norwich forwards were
able to put more pressure and the fourth goal again came from Every, stabbing
home after a defensive mix up following good work from Stubbs. There was still
more to come from Norwich however and it looks like Barney's work is beginning
to pay off on the other players.

Avoiding 2005's political faux paux against Ireland, Slater's motivation was
not provided by potatoes, this time more by his own personal challenge to get
the best out of new forward Tom Patterson. Sensing that he must be more of a
kick up the backside than an arm round the shoulder kind of guy, he succeeded
in getting the best out of him when the battering ram centre forward pounced
on a mistake by the Ireland goalkeeper to stab home after a long ball from
Perrett. Slater's previous statement that he could 'not finish his dinner' was
mocked by the clinical open goal finish following a spill from the keeper.
Slater, still haunted by Patterson's miss in pre season from the "best cross
of his life" was otherwise composed and despite being five times over the
legal driving limit, had a strong game at sweeper. Only heard the story of
Patterson's miss once too, which is a start.

Further chances came and went for Perrett, Boucher, Stubbs and Utting. Biggest
two were from Taylor, again coming out on top in an aerial battle with the
Ireland forwards made his typically elegant presence felt in the opposition's
penalty box in the second half. Twice latching onto Stubbs corners he somehow
conspired to put the ball over, then onto the bar… from one yard. He was
promptly subbed for Higgins who settled well after a couple of runs up the
right once Perrett was too knackered to do it.

So all in all a satisfying result and performance for the Canaries and the
respective bosses summed it up in their post match press conferences;

"I'm proud of my lads, they stuck to their task and not even Barney's drink
problem could stop us". Andrew Higgins

"I've got to pick these players up after this, but who picks me up?" Ireland
Boss Stan 'Steve' Staunton (subsequently fired).

Final Score Norwich 5-0 RISSC
MOM: T Perrett

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