Grimshaw saves spot-kick as City’s second friendly ends goalless

Dan Grimshaw's early second-half penalty save ensured Norwich and Colchester played out a goalless draw in a competitive friendly encounter at the Avant Training Centre. The opening period was largely devoid of quality, with Colchester creating the better of the limited opportunities. The contest sprang to life after the restart, and Kien Connolly was handed the chance to break the deadlock from 12 yards, but Grimshaw produced an excellent save to preserve City's clean sheet and ensure the spoils were shared. On an overcast afternoon at City's training base, former Ipswich academy graduate Teddy Bishop fashioned the first opportunity inside the opening minute, flashing an effort into the side-netting before the assistant's flag was raised. Colchester, playing their first friendly of the summer, looked the more threatening in the early exchanges. When Kaion Lisbie used his blistering pace to burst beyond Vatan Ozcan down the right, Harry Darling reacted quickest to divert his dangerous cross behind for a corner. Having been forced off early against King's Lynn Town last weekend through illness, Mathias Kvistgaarden returned to spearhead City's attack. The Dane's first sight of goal was a tame effort comfortably gathered by his former team-mate Dan Barden, who was on trial in the U's goal. Lisbie – son of former City striker Kevin – was proving a tricky customer for teenager Ozcan. However, the young full-back recovered well midway through the first half to make an important block in the channel as the League Two outfit committed bodies forward. Norwich's best opening arrived moments later when Liam Gibbs' inviting lofted pass evaded the Colchester defence and picked out the advancing Jack Stacey. His cutback broke kindly for Matej Jurasek, but after shifting the ball onto his right foot, the Czech winger dragged his effort wide of the far post. That gave Philippe Clement's side encouragement, and the former Slavia Prague man soon saw another shot blocked from the edge of the penalty area. In a contest short on clear-cut chances, Paris Maghoma, encouraged by Clement to operate in more advanced areas, threaded a delicate pass into Kvistgaarden. The striker's cutback was eventually turned behind for a corner. A handful of half-chances followed before the interval, but neither side could find a breakthrough as the referee brought the opening 45 minutes to a close with the scores level. U's boss Danny Cowley and City chief Philippe Clement both heavily rotated their entire XIs at the break, giving the second half a more youthful feel. The standout introduction for the hosts was Jovon Makama, making his first appearance since suffering a foot injury in February's 2-0 home victory over Blackburn. Grimshaw was the only Canaries player to return after the break and, within five minutes of the restart, was called into action after the visitors' trialist C was brought down inside the box. Kien Connolly stepped up and sent his penalty low to the left, but the City stopper got down well to push it clear and preserve parity. Young Ukrainian midfielder Zach Baumann registered Norwich's first effort of the second half after Jacob Wright's cross dropped invitingly into his path, but he blazed high over the crossbar. Makama then went even closer, shrugging off his marker to race in behind before curling narrowly wide of the far post. With Vladan Kovacevic rested, Caleb Ansen was handed the chance to impress on the hour mark after replacing Grimshaw. The young goalkeeper showed quick reflexes moments later after Bruno Alves, at full stretch, inadvertently diverted the ball towards his own goal. Lucien Mahovo, the standout performer in the pre-season opener against King's Lynn, then delivered an inviting first-time cross for Makama, whose connection flashed narrowly wide. There was greater intensity and purpose about Clement's side during the closing 15 minutes. After Kellen Fisher's cross was flicked behind for a corner, Jakov Medic rose highest from the resulting delivery but nodded over at the far post. Wright's deep delivery was then caught by the wind and almost deceived the trialist goalkeeper in the U's goal, who could only push it into the path of Makama, with the forward immediately flagged offside. Alves tried his luck from distance in the closing stages, but his effort sailed comfortably over the crossbar. There was a moment of concern with five minutes remaining when Mahovo burst into an advanced position before being caught heavily by a U's defender just as he prepared to pull the trigger. The full-back was left limping and was unable to continue. The Essex side had a glorious chance to snatch victory in the dying seconds when Makise Evans raced clean through on goal, but dragged his effort wide of the post. Norwich’s pre-season preparations continue next Friday evening when they head to Switzerland to take on Europa League hopefuls St Gallen. Norwich City (first half): Grimshaw (GK); Stacey, Darling, McConville, Ozcan; Gibbs, Mattsson (C); Jurasek, Maghoma, Schwartau; Kvistgaarden. SUBS: Reyes (GK), Glossop, Towler, Adelusi. Norwich City (second half): Grimshaw (GK) (for Ansen, 60); Fisher, Medic, Alves, Mahovo (for Glossop, 87); Wright, Field (C); Jones, Baumann, Ameen; Makama. SUBS: Reyes (GK), Glossop, Towler, Adelusi. Goals: None Bookings: None Colchester United (first half): Barden (GK); Iandolo, Tucker, Digby, Anderson, Bishop, Ihionvien, Payne, Raggett, Vincent-Young, Lisbie. Colchester United (second half): Clark (GK), West, Williams, Leake, Faux, Connolly (for Evans, 87), Terry, Jolliffe, Oni, Kuffour Jr., Harvey. Goals: None Bookings: None