Seven heaven as Under-18s beat Norwich to go top

Mikey Moore scored a hat-trick as our Under-18s went top of the league with a 7-2 home victory over Norwich City on Saturday.

Leo Black and Oli Irow got us off to a flying start with two goals inside the first 10 minutes before Moore opened his tally on 28 minutes as we dominated the opening 45 minutes at Hotspur Way. In truth, we could and perhaps should have been further out of sight at the break but we failed to capitalise on a number of golden opportunities and gifted the Canaries with a lifeline as Elliot Myles' penalty clawed one back on the stroke of half-time.

Looking to assert our dominance after the interval, it only took three minutes for Moore to win and convert a spot-kick to restore our three-goal advantage. More good chances came and went for us until three goals in 10 second-half minutes through Callum Olusesi, Herbie James and Moore's hat-trick goal made it seven with nine minutes remaining but Norwich did grab a late consolation through Pedro Amadou on 87 minutes. Winning by that impressive five-goal margin propelled us to pole position in the Under-18 Premier League above our next opponent Chelsea on goals scored.

Playing with all the confidence that five wins in a row in all competitions brings, it didn't take long for us to find our rhythm as some intricate interplay on the edge of Norwich's box between Yusuf Akhamrich and Moore carved a shooting opportunity for Black whose first-time strike from 18 yards took a deflection over goalkeeper Henry Bullen to give us a deserved lead on seven minutes.

We doubled our lead just two minutes later as Irow finished off a lovely team move, Maeson King did well to start the attack by finding Moore whose superb control and pass allowed an onrushing Damola Ajayi to whip in a teasing delivery for the sliding Irow to half volley in from six yards out. 

Bottom side Norwich looked low on confidence as we dominated for long spells in the opening period but we couldn't capitalise as Akhamrich and Irow saw their shots well-saved by the keeper and Moore's dink from close range fell just wide of the far post. In fairness, it was only a matter of time before we found our third which duly came when the impressive Black combined well with Moore to carve open the defence before the latter showed composure to deftly lift the ball past Bullen.

Despite being on top for the vast majority, we were left feeling slightly frustrated at half-time as a lapse of concentration gave the Canaries a route back into the contest when goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn brought down Errol Mundle-Smith in the third minute of stoppage time with Myles making no mistake from 12 yards. 

After the break, we ramped up our energy levels both in and out of possession to make sure we didn't allow the visitors back into the game and our three-goal cushion was restored on 48 minutes, Moore - who led by example in the high press throughout - intercepting the goalkeeper's pass just inside the area who brought down the forward as he looked to round him and then stepped up to double his tally from the spot. 

It was one-way traffic once again but the second half followed a similar pattern to the first as more chances went begging with our number 10 denied his third by the crossbar and Akhamrich, Ajayi and Olusesi all going close. We had to bide our time for the fifth but it was worth the wait as King again found Moore who produced a lovely deft flick to give-and-go with Tyrese Hall in midfield before spinning in behind and playing in his fellow England Under-17 teammate Olusesi who placed his shot into the bottom corner in the 72nd minute. 

This opened the floodgates as James made it sixth a minute later, the forward latching onto Black's through-ball after we countered from a Norwich corner before running the entire half and placing a finish under the keeper to open his account in our colours. Then, with nine minutes to play, Moore completed a memorable day with his third after excellent pressing from substitutes James and Ellis Lehane won possession back high up the pitch as the latter laid off the attacker to net his seventh in all competitions.

Credit to Norwich as they kept on playing in spite of the scoreline and grabbed their second three minutes from time, substitutes Amadou and La'Sean Sealey linking well down the left flank to fashion an opportunity in open play with the former placing his shot under Bloedorn for a late consolation.

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