Canary Keeper's penalty save is a Ruddy Marvel

22 August 2010 10:37
John Maiden reports on another exciting win for Norwich City at Carrow Road where John Ruddy's penalty save and two late goals made the final score: Norwich City 2 Swansea City 0. The home side started brightly and could easily have been 2-0 up by half time had a player been on hand to finish a couple of several chances created in front of the vociferous fans in the Barclay Stand. After just three minutes Andrew Surman's left wing cross caused problems for the Swansea defenders before the danger was cleared. After a quarter of an hour Grant Holt put Korey Smith through on goal in the inside right channel, but his shot was blocked by Dorus De Vries. Two minutes later the Swansea keeper did well to cut out Chris Martin's low pull back from the Norwich left. Then Martin tried again and this time, although his cross eluded De Vries, there was no Norwich player in the right place to put the ball in the net. With no goal to celebrate, the Snakepit fans had to content themselves with reminding Swansea substitute, Shefki Kuqi, as he warmed up in front of them, that he used to play for local rivals, Ipswich Town. The wry smile on the striker's face suggested that he had not forgotten just how keen the rivalry can be when the teams from Norfolk and Suffolk meet on the field of play. Another chance for the home side went begging after 25 minutes when Andrew Surman's right wing corner was headed wide by Andrew Crofts. Then, as the visitors began to get more into the game, Elliott Ward did really well to block a goal-bound shot from the lively Stephen Dobbie. Four minutes into the second half Wes Hoolahan let fly from long range but his shot was comfortably save by De Vries. While, at the other end, Ruddy had more to do to keep Scott Sinclair's fierce strike from hitting the back of the net, after the former Chelsea player's determined run had taken him deep into the Norwich penalty area. David Cotterill saw his powerful shot deflect over the crossbar off a Norwich head. When play switched to the visitors' half Hoolahan's angled drive went wide, but if Michael Nelson had stretched out a boot he might easily have turned it past De Vries. Another run into the Norwich penalty area - this time by Dobbie - was ended by a perfectly timed tackle by man-of-the-match, Elliott Ward. However, when Sinclair got in behind the Norwich defence seven minutes from full-time, Ruddy's timing was out by a split second and as the Swansea winger went down rather dramatically, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The Norwich keeper redeemed himself in spectacular fashion by diving low to his right to turn David Cotterill's penalty kick onto the post to save the day, which got even better for the home fans a few minutes later when the unlucky Ashley Williams deflected substitute, Anthony MacNamee's low left wing cross past De Vries from six yards. Deep into stoppage time Paul Lambert's anniversary since taking charge of the Canaries a year ago was rounded off in style. When Chris Martin's through ball found Grant Holt on the right wing, everyone in the ground - including the Norwich Manager - expected the experienced Canary Marksman to 'run down the clock' by heading for the corner flag. Instead, Holt floated over the perfect cross for substitute, Simeon Jackson to score his first goal for the club with a wais

Source: FOOTYMAD