National Youth League
Premier Cup 1st Round
Wednesday 18th October 2023
Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.57
Volenti Academy U19 3 Norwich City U19 1, attendance 11
17’ 1-0
38’ 1-1
90’ +1, 2-1
90’ +2, 3-1
@ Coombe Wood School, 3G Pitch
Melville Avenue
South Croydon
CR2 7HY
No Admission or Programme.
This finally got underway 27 minutes late. Not sure if it was the early game being played on the pitch on my arrival finishing late, or the fact that Norwich only arrived about twenty minutes before the scheduled start. This is such a poorly administered league (F.A. Full Time, so little surprise there!) it’s hard to tell which!
The venue was Coombe Wood School. A typical cage set up, with spectator access along just over halfway of one side. Unfortunately, due to the game being played during school hours (they went at 3pm) there was no access allowed, despite there being a gate directly from the car park into the area next to the cage, thus avoiding going into the building. This meant viewing through the fence, from behind one goal only. Luckily, I got one of the few better view points, which wasn’t as bad as I initially thought it would be, but wouldn’t have bothered coming if I had known this beforehand. At least it was free to park (enter off A212 Coombe Road). There are cameras and charges in operation (its near the Croydon tram line) but by registering at the school reception meant it was free.
Although it was a cup match, these two are in the same division, this being 9th versus 4th as far as league positions go. Volenti led early on, finishing side footed from a pull back on the right, but Norwich levelled seven minutes before halftime, with a deflected shot from 20 yards. Norwich missed a great chance to go ahead with twenty minutes left, but headed over with the goal gaping. They were made to pay when Volenti made it 2-1 a minute into stoppage time, when a deflected free kick beat the ‘keeper into the top corner and a minute later they added a third, breaking down the right, before pulling the ball across the six yard box for a tap in at the far post.
