29 mins Playing at left back for the evening, Peter Ramage hit a low first time shot inside the six yard area to give us the lead - Solano the provider. 1-0

Half time:  Norwich 0 Newcastle 1

35 mins Milner cut in from the right and crossed low and strong for Matty Pattison to put his first-time shot against the post. From our next attack though, a great Charles N'Zogbia strike flew into the roof of the net from the edge of the box. 2-0

90 mins Substitute McVeigh turned and shot home past Harper from a Huckerby corner. 2-1

Full time: Norwich 1 Newcastle 2

Glenn Roeder said:

“We're assessing his (Duff's) fitness at the moment. 

"It would have been nice if we could have brought him to Norwich tonight for the supporters of Norwich, really, because it was a worthwhile occasion. The Craig Flemings of this world, for me, they're the role models. It's rarely you get a player staying 10 years with a club. It's a nice occasion for Craig and thoroughly deserved.

“But I'm not prepared to risk Damien on the pitch until I'm happy with his fitness.”

Testimonial recipient Craig Fleming commented:

“I couldn't have wished for a better night. It was a lovely send-off. As for our fans, I can't speak highly enough of them. They're fantastic.

“The storm arrived just as I started coming off. I gave the gaffer the wink and he got the board up, and just as I sat down it started to rain - perfect timing.

"It was great for Newcastle to come down here on my big night and I cannot thank the Geordie fans enough for making the effort to come down for it - they were fantastic. They made a lot of noise.

"I have a lot of memories from my career of playing against Newcastle. When I played for Oldham I remember Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley both having a fantastic night in 1993 at Boundary Park when United won 3-1.

"It was long time ago, but Cole got a couple and the game was on Sky. Newcastle are always exciting to play against and last night was no different.

"I really hope they have a good season because the fans deserve it. They always have flair players and exciting individuals in their team."

Canaries boss Nigel Worthington added:

"I'm delighted for Craig and his family and I've got to praise the Norwich City supporters - a magnificent turnout for him. Credit to the club and him and the supporters for 10 years of a marriage in heaven.

"I thought it was a very good game and a good exercise from our point of view against quality Premiership opposition.

"We worked hard, passed the ball very well at times ourselves, could have passed it better at other times, but it was a very useful exercise.”

Speaking about the first goal:

"It was a bit soft. Jurgen's had to fill in there tonight, but if Adam had been there he might have sniffed out the cross. Could have been better - but the second goal they scored was a Premiership goal.

“But we stuck at it and we finished very bright, which I was pleased about.

“We are getting there, we have another game to go and we will keep looking at it, keep working at it and try and get it right.

“It was a good game - Newcastle came to have a good go, we set out to have a good go. Yes, it's a testimonial game, but it is a pre-season game and that is the way both coaches looked at it.”

In the cock-eyed manner that characterises our favourite club, this first friendly warm-up of the season came after the real business had already begun with that two-legged Intertoto tie.   

And with resources at a premium, our squad this evening differed significantly from that which tasted success in Norway at the weekend.  

With new boy Damien Duff held back for an expected Saturday debut in Toon, Ameobi, Luque, Emre and Babayaro were absent due to injury, while Shay gave up the gloves for one night. 

As well as a rare outing for Harper, that gave the opportunity to a clutch of home-grown players who can expect to form the backbone of our reserve side in the coming months. 

And while there's a certain pride in seeing Academy graduates following the likes of Steven Taylor onto the big stage, it's stretching credibility to breaking point to believe that this is a golden generation of teenage talent at the club - Roeder's Rookies have a long, long way to go. 

A Norwich side who were almost at full strength look to have a job on their hands this season if they're to threaten at the right end of the Championship table. 

Against mediocre opposition then, our unproven lads did reasonably well, abetted by the odd cool head like Moore in their midst.

However, the harsh realities of the Premiership mean that nights like these simply won't happen and vacancies plugged tonight in crucial areas of the team (notably left back and up front) remain to be filled by bona-fide signings when the real stuff begins.      

That's not to take anything away from those who appeared tonight, with both Pattison and Huntington unluckily seeing their efforts strike the woodwork. 

Meanwhile Alan O'Brien supplied a couple of characteristic flat out dashes down the left - maybe Duff can teach him to run and pass in the same movement, rather than alternating from one to the other.  

This night is destined to be remembered for two things - a rare "out of the seat" moment in a friendly when the otherwise indifferent Zog unleashed a thunderbolt for his goal....and the weather.

Norwich had simmered in the summer afternoon heat and by match time the air was thick and heavy, with claps of thunder and streaks of lightning growing ever closer.

The weather finally broke in spectacular style in the closing moments of the game, as the rain lashed down in torrents, sending fans in the lower sections of the stands scuttling for cover.

With the downpour gaining in strength and being whipped across the ground by strong winds, the referee abandoned proceedings with a couple of minutes to go - both teams legging it to the sanctuary of the dressing rooms without further ado.

This storm of biblical proportions saw many remain in the ground for shelter until it abated, settling down to steady rain as the crowd dispersed to pick their way through mini-lakes in surrounding streets.

News came later that the conditions had prevented the United team from flying home as scheduled and they had instead made the return journey by bus. 

Strange - we didn't know Ryanair flew from Norwich......  

Biffa

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