City end PL2 League Phase with clinical Norwich triumph

City took a two-goal lead into the break at the Joie Stadium after Christian McFarlane fired a low-driven finish into the far-right corner on 33 minutes for his fourth league goal of the season.

The full-back then teed up number nine Matty Warhurst, with the forward heading home from close range after a fantastic, whipped cross by McFarlane left Norwich scrambling.

The visitors proved a little trickier to penetrate in the second half but we would finally get our third of the evening when Sverre Nypan converted from the penalty spot with less than 10 to play and in turn extend our unbeaten run on home soil in the PL2 to over a year.

With other teams still to play in Gameweek 20, City await confirmation of our final league standing, and as a result, our opponents for our Round of 16 home tie which will take place later this month. 

WHAT HAPPENED

A sunny, mild Monday evening played host to our final League Phase game in which City looked determined from the off to complete the first part of the campaign with an unbeaten home record.

The opening 30 minutes flew by with City enjoying large spells of possession with Norwich restricted to trying to punish our boys in blue on the counter.

Wilkinson’s youngsters finally found the deserved breakthrough just after the half hour.

Isaiah Dada-Mascoll punched a low pass into the feet of McFarlane and the full-back did well to unleash his shot on the half turn from eight yards out.

McFarlane then turned provider with his cross from the left headed home by Warhurst on his first start since his return from injury.

McFarlane found acres of space on the left to provide the assist after fast, eye-catching link-up play between Ashton Muir, Charlie Gray and Isaiah Dada-Mascoll showcased City’s hunger to score.  

That desire didn’t waiver in the second half with Dada-Mascoll, Nypan, Warhurst and Gray all going close to finding a third.

And our hard work was once again rewarded when Nypan converted from the penalty spot after substitute Reigan Heskey was brought down in the box on 82 minutes.

It could have been more with Mamad Sangare and Femi Fapetu both going close to adding from the bench.

But City will still be pleased with a convincing return to winning ways as we now head into the PL2 Play-Offs.

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Brits, Nfonkeu (Thomas 73’), Noble, Alleyne, McFarlane, Dada-Mascoll, Henderson-Hall, Gray (Fapetu 65’), Warhurst (Sangare 65’), Nypan, Muir (R. Heskey 53’).

SUBS | Hudson.  

NORWICH XI | Ansen, Adelusi, Ozcan, Wilson, Gee, Domeracki, Mundle, Towler, Corke (Steele 75’), Chilvers (Glossop 83’), Mundle-Smith (Ameen 64’).

SUBS | Binnie, Ofori-Manteaw.  

AS A RESULT

City move to third in the League Phase standings, but our final placement won’t be confirmed until all remaining fixtures have taken place this week.

UP NEXT

Our attention now turns to the play-offs of the PL2.

Once all remaining League Phase games have been played, our Round of 16 opponent will be confirmed.

Keep across mancity.com and the Official Man City App to find out who we will welcome to the Joie Stadium later this month.