Despite tough conditions our young Blues were brilliant as they took Norwich apart. Donnell McNeilly, Louis Flower and debutant Leo Cardoso all grabbed braces whilst Reiss Russell-Denny marked his return to the youth team with a fine free-kick.

Sublime start

Our young Blues were looking to start 2023 off with a win as they took on a Norwich City side that sat in seventh place.

We got off to the perfect start as McNeilly was able to control well and fire an effort into the top corner of the net.

McNeilly turned provider as, following intense pressure on the young Canaries’ goal, Cardoso marked his first youth-team start with a low driven shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Three minutes later it was three as Russell-Denny curled in a free-kick on the edge of the box. That was his first goal of the season.

The home side rarely threatened our goal but five minutes before half-time they did manage to pull a goal back through Finley Welch, who arrowed a shot which went in off the post.

More goals

Zain Silcott-Duberry provided another assist as we scored a fourth soon after our opponents’ goal, as his cross was met by the head of Flower.

McNeilly grabbed his second just before half-time as the striker converted at the second time of asking following his first shot which cannoned off the crossbar.

It was more of the same in the second half as we extended our lead, and it was Cardoso who marked his Under-18s PL debut with a brace. The young attacker finished well after having the ball laid off to him by Frankie Runham.

On the hour mark, we made it seven and it was a superb bicycle-kick from Flower which gave him his second of the game. The third player to get a brace today.

There were numerous chances to add further damage to the scoreline but seven goals to one was how the game would end.

Our young Blues are next in action on Thursday 19 January as we take on Cambridge United away from home in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Max Merrick; Frankie Runham, Kaiden Wilson, Brodi Hughes (c), Harrison Murray-Campbell; Reiss Russell-Denny (Harrison McMahon 54), Sam Rak-Sakyi, Zain Silcott-Duberry (Chinonso Chibueze 64); Louis Flower, Donnell McNeilly, Leo Cardoso (Noah Hay 69)
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Yahya Attiat-Allah
Scorers: McNeilly 6, 44; Cardoso 25, 56; Russell-Denny 28; Flower 43, 61
Booked: Russell-Denny 32; Flower 84

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Henry Bullen; Benjamin McCabe, Tyler Williams (Jaiden Owen 35), Lloyd Ofori-Manteaw, Alfie Doy, Uriah Djedje, Alfie Pinyoun, Finley Welch, Dubem Eze (Hugo Gomez 64), Michael Reindorf, Harrison Thompson (Pedro Amadou 46)
Unused subs: Archie Howard, Jykese Fields.
Scorers: Finley Welch 41.
Booked: Alfie Doy 59