Norman travelled to Lakeford on a bright, warm Sunday afternoon. Thomas C missing from the squad through injury in the only change to the squad, Thomas M coming in, in his place.
Lakeford kicked off as both sides felt each other out in the early stages with Norman having more of the attacks but Lakeford looking lively up front. Norman broke quickly and fed Shane E on the right who delivered an early ball into the box where Reece M met in and slotted it home from 10 yards out. This appeared to set Norman in their stride and in the first 15-20 minutes they seemed to control the game, limiting Lakeford to just the odd attack. Lakeford made a couple of changes and the lack of concentration in the Norman side was allowing Lakeford to see more of the ball and they soon settled into their usual style of play. Norman rode their luck at times, but limited Lakeford to long range strikes which Joe P done well to hold on to and made one terrific one handed push over the bar. They did almost go close with a shot across the goal but it went narrowly wide. Half Time Lakeford 0 Norman 1.
Norman kicked off the second half and seemed to try and up their game and their tempo. Jack R was exceptional and a constant danger when he was on the ball. He was proving a successful outlet for Norman. Jack R himself won a free kick on 47 minutes, when he twisted and turned, squeezed between 2 defenders before he was felled. Jack R stepped up and "Ronaldo" like, chipped the ball over the wall, dipping sharply from 22 yards before it clipped the near upright on the way to the back of the goal. An exceptional technique that had rise, dip and movement whilst maintaining a straight trajectory. Four minutes later Norman had the ball in the net again from a corner, incorrectly awarded. Jordan G rose and headed firmly into the goal only to be ruled out for "climbing". Norman seemed a shadow of their usual selves, no great tempo in their play, a nervy look about them today. A host of changes followed in a bid to step things up, Lakeford appeared to drop their heads after the second goal. Shep M made it 3-0 after Jordan G found him on the right, before he slotted home. Norman pressure forced a back pass in the 78th minute, which the goal keeper picked up inside the box. Connor S knocked the ball back to Isaac M who smashed the ball through the wall to complete the scoring. Full Time Lakeford 0 Norman 4. MOM Isaac M
An emphatic scoreline but a far from emphatic performance, something we will need to put right next week as we need to be at our very best. The scoreline was harsh on Lakeford but Norman defended well, limited their chances, whilst putting their chances away. Norman are currently second in the league, albeit a false position after playing more games than everyone else, but with back to back games vs top of the league Taverham over the next 2 weeks, we will see exactly where we are at. All that aside, I would settle for a similar performance and scoreline next week, to Norman of course. Vincere Aude!!!!
