Match Zone

Stiepermann The Difference For Norwich U23s

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Marco Stiepermann made his first appearance for a couple of months in Canary colours as he put in a classy performance for the U23 development side as Wolves were beaten 2-1 at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon.

Marco hasn’t been used by Daniel Farke in his preferred role as a central midfielder, rather he’s been a victim of his own versatility. With that excellent left foot, he can also play as a left back and in the season’s early months, was often preferred there to “specialist” James Husband 

A hernia has kept him out since February 10th at Derby but his return gave a tantalising glimpse into his ability in the centre of the park, something I’ve been keen to see.

Partnered with Adam Phillips, the 27-year-old German and his young colleague ran the midfield, by and large, and it was Phillips who started the move that led to the opener.

Phillips, who is still struggling to get game time at Cambridge where he is still on loan, put Simon Power away on the right wing and his cross was eventually met by Tristan Abrahams from close range, after Adam Idah missed the initial chance, to open the scoring on 19 minutes.

Just a minute later and it was Stiepermann who doubled the lead. An Abrahams cross was blocked and fell as far as Marco who chipped the keeper, who’d flapped at it and saw it drop just over the line, with the ball then being cleared but the linesman giving the goal.

Wolves, who had former Norwich Academy Graduate Ashley Benny-Seal among their numbers, hit back in the 63rd minute though when Stiepermann gave the ball away in a rare mistake. Niall Ennis scored from close range to get the visitors back in the game and it was looking like it’d be a tight last half hour until Wolves were reduced to ten men by injury, having used all their subs.

Aston Oxborough needed to be at his best though when he pulled off a top-drawer save to keep out a late Elliot Watt free kick.

There was no sign of Matt Jarvis here though. He was thought to be likely to get some game time for Matt Gill’s squad in this game, something that Daniel Farke suggested at Colney on Friday but it was a no-show. Whether he’s had another setback, I don’t know but it wouldn’t surprise me with “the glass man.”

Norwich also fielded a triallist in the shape of 19-year-old Adam Lund from Barnsley. Lund has come through the youth ranks at Oakwell and previously captained the Tykes’ U18 side. He can play either in defence or midfield.

Norwich: Oxborough; Aarons (C),  Lund, Wallis, Aransibia; Power, Phillips, Stiepermann (Milovanovic 72), Mourgos (Payne 82); Abrahams (Fonkeu 77), Idah. Subs: Hallett (GK), Kamal

OTBC

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Editor - a forty something Canary, who has been following Norwich for 30 odd years. Family man with wife, kids, dog and a love of sport. Fan of Boxing, Vale 46, F1 and Rock.

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