FULL TIME: Town 1 Norwich 1 (From Swindon Advertiser)

FULL TIME: Town 1 Norwich 1

5:00pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

By Anthony Marshall »

Skip social links
Print
Email
Comments(61)

GORDON Greer's injury-time header earned a point for Town as they drew 1-1 with League One leaders Norwich at the County Ground.

The skipper connected with Alan Sheehan's corner deep into stoppage time to earn a deserved point for the home side when it looked like they were heading for defeat.

Earlier, prolific Norwich front man Grant Holt had headed home his 28th goal of the season, and that looked to be enough to earn the Canaries yet another victory.

But Town kept pressing, and when Forster made a superb save to deny Jonathan Douglas late on, Greer headed in the resulting corner.

Here are the key moments from today's game:

One min: Darel Russell finds Norwich dangerman Wes Hoolahan in space, and he fires an early shot wide of the Town goal from 30 yards.

17 mins: Charlie Austin sets Frank Nouble racing away and he runs clear of Michael Nelson, only to be brought down by the centre-back right on the edge of the area. However, referee Scott Mathieson remarkably waves away Town's protests.

20 mins: Simon Lappin delivers a free-kick from wide on the left which Nelson meets, but sends his header straight at Swindon keeper Phil Smith.

24 mins: Lappin's deep corner is only half cleared by Alan Sheehan, and Darel Russell flashes the loose ball well over on the volley.

27 mins: Norwich are piling on the pressure and a cross from full-back Michael Rose just evades the head of Chris Martin and bounces agonisingly the wrong side of the upright, with Smith beaten.

34 mins: Chris Martin collects a diagonal ball, cuts in from the right and drags a right-footed shot wide of the near post.

Town are looking comfortable in possession, but are yet to even have a shot and Norwich are much more dangerous in the final third.

40 mins: Danny Ward receives the ball 30 yards out with time and space. The midfielder steps forward and unleashes a dipping strike which Canaries keeper Fraser Forster has to tip over.

From the resulting corner, Gordon Greer connects but sees his header blocked by the visiting defence.

49 mins: Stephen Darby beats Grant Holt to a header in the middle of the park and the ball drops nicely for Ward.

He rides a couple of challenges and strikes a low effort goalwards, which Forster does well to keep hold of.

52 mins (GOAL 0-1 Holt): A superb team move from Norwich sees the visitors break the deadlock.

Lappin's neat ball down the line finds Michael Rose, and with runners creating space for him he has plenty of time and space out on the left.

The full-back delivers an inch-perfect cross right into the heart of the six-yard box, where Grant Holt beats Lecsinel Jean-Francois to head home his 28th goal of the season.

58 mins: Alan Sheehan curls a 30-yard free kick well off target from a promising position.

60 mins: Greer is adjudged to have fouled Chris Martin 25 yards out in a central position, and the Norwich striker steps up to curl the free-kick over the wall and against the top of the crossbar.

It's a narrow escape, with Phil Smith completely beaten.

66 mins: Ward does well down the left before firing a low ball in to the feet of Charlie Austin. The front man turns and drils a shot which Forster has to get down to stop.

75 mins: Having already brought on Mark Marshall and Michael Timlin, Town manager Danny Wilson makes his third and final change, introducing Vincent Pericard for Charlie Austin.

However, the substitution is met by a chorus of boos, and Wilson seems to turn round and give the Arkell's Stand a piece of his mind.

76 mins: Pericard flicks on a ball into the box and it drops for Ward at the far post.

However, the bounce on the wet surface just takes it away from the wide man and he is unable to get a good contact on it, bobbling a shot straight at Forster.

84 mins: Sheehan gives away possession from a sloppy free-kick on the half way line. Norwich string four passes together on the break, with substitute Stephen Elliott eventually heading Korey Smith's cross over from close range.

90 mins: Pericard is fouled by Nelson 30 yards out. This time Sheehan's free-kick is much better as he forces Forster into a parried save, with Lecsinel Jean-Francois unable to connect on the rebound.

90 mins: Jonathan Douglas connects from 20 yards with a superb volley which is heading for the top corner until the intervention of Forster's fingertips, putting the ball out for a corner. It's a stunning save.

90 mins (GOAL 1-1 Greer): From the resulting Sheehan corner, Greer escapes his marker to get free at the far post and thunders a header into the back of the net. The County Ground errupts at what could be a huge point.

TOWN (4-4-2): Phil Smith; Stephen Darby, Gordon Greer (c), Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Alan Sheehan; Jon-Paul McGovern, Craig Easton (Michael Timlin 68), Jonathan Douglas, Danny Ward; Frank Nouble (Mark Marshall 68), Charlie Austin (Vincent Pericard 75)

Subs not used: Jakub Jesionkowski, Nathan Thompson, Matt Ritchie, Billy Bodin

NORWICH (4-3-1-2): Fraser Forster; Russell Martin, Michael Nelson, Gary Doherty, Michael Rose; Korey Smith, Darel Russell, Simon Lappin (Stephen Hughes 79); Wes Hoolahan; Grant Holt (c), Chris Martin (Stephen Elliott 73)

Subs not used: Declan Rudd, Adam Drury, Paul McVeigh, Anthony McNamee, Oli Johnson

Comments(61)

vikingred says...
4:27pm Sat 20 Mar 10

Why the hell take Nouble off after that brilliant run at the Norwich defence. Guess Danny knows what he's doing? Come on Town