Ghosts aim to give Norwich City a scare

Norwich City are the visitors to Clipbush Park on Tuesday night when they face Fakenham in the fourth round of the Norfolk Senior Cup.

The Canaries have re-entered the competition after an absence of two decades and are likely to field a predominantly Academy-based side, with the possibility of one or two fringe players being given an outing.

Ghosts manager Wayne Anderson said the tie represented an exciting opportunity for his side: “Whatever team they put out, they will have some good players and our lads have not stopped talking about it since the draw was made.

“It will be a great experience for them – some of them are Norwich City supporters through and through. There will be a few nerves I’m sure, because it is perhaps our cup final as they are favourites for the competition, along with King’s Lynn.”

The Canaries have been regular pre-season visitors to Fakenham in recent times, but Tuesday’s match has more at stake, with a place in the quarter-finals – and a tie at home to North Walsham or Norwich United – up for grabs.

Anderson added: “It’s going to be a good contest as we’re playing in a competitive game rather than a pre-season friendly.

“It is going to be a money spinner for the club because we are expecting a big crowd and we’re looking forward to taking on the best club in Norfolk.”

Norwich City Academy manager Ricky Martin, speaking after the FA Youth Cup victory over Charlton on Tuesday night, said: “I think the team will be largely what we had out there today but hopefully with one or two professionals as well. I will have a conversation with the manager. He comes along, we work very closely and he will tell me who I can have.

“It will be a competitive XI and I think if it’s the same side I put out there tonight they are going to give it their best shot, but the unfortunate thing is the two full-backs can’t play because they are only 15, which is criminal really.

“It will be a different game. The one thing I would say though is maybe our game will be quicker, but if we are slower and we do take our time on the ball I think they will know about it because the tackles won’t come from another 16 or 17-year-old they are going to come from a man.

“So that will be a great lesson – ‘Too many touches: don’t be surprised if you get tackled’. That will be the message I will be passing on to them next week. Go and play, but play at a high tempo and if you dilly and dally on the ball you are going to be caught.”

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