Hadleigh United welcomed Norwich United for the first match in the 2010/11  season. Hadleigh with a new management team in place and with several new players looked to start the season with a victory. Norwich United after hoping for better things last season have retained several players from last season and included new signings  Gareth Simpson & targetman Stuart Roach, both signed this week, with Roach signing on Thursday so he was available  for today.

Norwich pressed from the start with Hadleigh's Kris Rose forced to header a ball back to keeper Aaron Benstead to clear.

Hadleigh then won a free kick after Pat fleming was tripped in Hadleigh's first attack. Luke Read's 20+ yard free kick was deflected with keeper Ben Nower holling firmly.

Norwich took the lead after 3 minutes, when a crossed ball by Furlong  found Andy Claydon in the area, with time he controlled well, turned and shot in past the diving Aaron Benstead in a crowded area.

Minutes later Aaron Benstead was forced to make a fine save from a shot in from the right by Lee Hunter, as Norwich looked dangerous, before a powerful shot in by Norwich player Page was saved at the second attempt by Aaron Benstead. Then yet another powrful ball in by Blyth was again saved by Benstead, with Hadleigh still on the back foot.

On 15 minutes keeper Aaron Benstead had to be alert again  to palm clear a shot in by Page at the expense of a corner.

Hadleigh then had a bright 10 minutes , with Pat Fleming's cross into the area just too long for the Hadleigh forwards, Payne & Deacon.

Craig Payne for hadleigh then won the ball , with a perfect cross in from the rigt found Ben Deacon who's header skimmed the crossbar.

On 22 minutes as Hadleigh pressed for the equaliser , another Craig Payne cross from the right found Luke read to control with his shot in being tipped over by Nower for a corner, Read's flag kick found Kris Rose who's header was just wide.

With 25 minutes gone, Norwich increased their score when after conceeding a corner, poor Hadleigh defending allowed  Shipley a free header in to beat the diving Aaron Benstead.

Two minutes later a well taken Hadleigh corner by Luke Read forced keeper Ben Nower to punch clear.

Then more woe for Hadleigh on 31 minutes as Norwich attacked down the right , poor defending allowed   Fox  to fire in a looping powerful shot which deceived keeper Benstead to go into the net on the far post with Blyth on hand unmarked to make certain.

Hadleigh's Ben Deacon found Craig Payne  to shoot in , with his shot going for a corner, Luke Read's flag kick found Chris Leys but his header was just too wide.

At the other end Benstead saved well at the second attempt from a dangerous , powrful shot in by Hunter.

A header back to Keeper Benstead by Rose was to hard , with Benstead conceeding a corner, with Norwich  player Page shooting over as Norwich still pressed.

Pat Fleming then saw a powerful shot block as Hadleigh attacked, before Kris Rose made a diving header to clear a dangerous ball in by Hunter

H-T     Hadleigh 0  Norwich 3

Norwich commenced the second half in the same vain as the first with Hadleigh having to defend as the defence   came under pressure.

Hadleigh sub Dale  Munson's through ball found Ben Deacon , but his shot in was comfortably cleared.

Norwich then forced two corners in quick succession , with Chris Leys & Ben Deacon clearing.

Hadleigh then had a rare chance went  Hadleigh sub "livewire "   Keiren Joseph's through ball to Dale Munson was a fraction too long.

A long range effort  on 83 minutes by Keiren Joseph was just wide.

Norwich  seemed content to defend their lead, but still looked dangerous on the attack, as Hadleigh discovered on 85 minutes when a cross from Hunter on the right found  Claydon to fire in with the ball hitting the crossbar, Claydon reacted to the rebound to fire back in but well over.

The final minutes saw Norwich having more of the possession.

F-T     Hadleigh 0   Norwich 3