The wait to decide the Under-18 Premier League southern title will continue for at least three more days, as Chelsea were hit on the counter late in each half and succumbed to a narrow defeat at Cobham.

The Blues started the game well and had some good opportunities, but Norwich City carried a threat on the counter-attack throughout. They used that to take the lead late in the first half, when Alex Roberts got in behind to round goalkeeper Luke Campbell and beat the defender covering on the line.

We came out strong after the break to fight back, though. Donnell McNeilly was denied by a good save from the keeper when given a chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but less than a minute later he did find the back of the net, firing in emphatically from Genesis Antwi’s cutback.

For a period of heavy Chelsea pressure after our equaliser we looked by far the more likely winners, McNeilly and Ato Ampah both going close before Frankie Runham’s corner was turned onto the crossbar. However, it was Norwich and Roberts who again scored on the counter, meaning there would be no title for the Blues today, although we remain in pole position with two games remaining.