The U's came within minutes of a crucial three points on Saturday, as a late goal pegged them back at the death.

They had defended manfully for 89 minutes and looked destined for a big win as Kevin McLeod grabbed the first of the game with thirteen to go, but a late bundled goal brought the Canaries back into the match.

It was a much stronger display at the back, but once again the U's were left to rue a late equaliser that denied them the win.

And it looked like their luck might have turned when Darel Russell headed against the post late on, but when Johnnie Jackson was harshly adjudged to have given away a free kick in the dying stages, the Canaries pounced.

The U's made four changes to their starting eleven from the side that was so comprehensively beaten at Cardiff seven days ago.

Danny Granville came in for George Elokobi, and Pat Baldwin replaced the injured Karl Duguid as the U's went for yet another defensive permutation.

In midfield, Kem Izzet came in for Kevin Watson, who continued to struggle with his injured calf, whilst Kevin Lisbie was a late absentee from the squad as Clive Platt came in to replace him as he resumed his partnership from the start of the season with Teddy Sheringham.

In the absence of Duguid, Johnnie Jackson was given the captain's armband for the first time in his Colchester career, a reward for his own recent rich vein of form. Connolly replaced the U's skipper at right back, with Baldwin going to the vacated centre half position.

As the game got underway, the U's fans met their manager's call for a rousing atmosphere at Layer Road and the players responded in kind with a full blooded effort in the early stages.

Neither team really had a sustained spell of possession in that opening spell, though, although the U's were still looking a touch tentative at the back when the ball did come their way.

The first decent chance for either team came on 12 minutes when Baldwin slotted a ball forwards for Yeates, who cut directly into the box and fired in a shot that fizzed over the bar from a tight angle.

It encouraged the U's and some indecision in the City defence allowed Sheringham to poke the ball to Platt, before Camara got in to clear for a corner.

The visitors were playing some good stuff until the final third but got their first effort on target on eighteen minutes when, from a free kick won by Cureton, Fotheringham curled one right down the throat of Gerken.

Then Smith got in on goal as a deflected ball ran fortunately in his favour and, just as he was about to pull the trigger on his shot, the returning Connolly got in a fantastic tackle at the death.

Connolly and Yeates, along with Jackson, then combined well down the right, ending with the U's number eleven sending over a dangerous cross that caused Shackell to put in a panic clearance.

From the resulting throw in, the U's caused further chaos in the City box, with Sheringham going to ground - the referee not interested in any half-hearted penalty appeals.

As the U's pinned in the Canaries, a long clearance sent Cureton away on goal from deep on the right flank, but he was only able to power his shot over the bar.

Shackell was enduring a difficult spell in the first half as he twice miscommunicated with his defence and then put an easy pass out of play, but much of that came from the pressure the U's were putting on the Canaries defence and the mistakes it caused.

The front six U's players were closing down the ball and it was giving them a chance to win possession in useful areas. Their hard work was lifting the crowd, who responded in kind with vocal support.

McLeod fired over the bar on 29 minutes, and City were also playing much of their forward play down their left flank. They were, more often than not, repelled by the excellent Connolly who was a revelation at right back.

The efforts of those in front of him had meant that Gerken had had a relatively quiet first half, although he did well to react on 36 minutes when a cute Cureton flick through almost had strike partner Evans in on goal.

A similar flick from Yeates on the right flank a minute later sent Sheringham in towards goal, but his cross to the near post was miscued and the veteran showed his frustration as Marshall collected easily.

Both teams remained tentative, however, and the U's gave up possession cheaply five minutes before half time, allowing Fotheringham to burst towards goal. Rather than shooting, he opted to pass to Cureton, who was offside much to the home fans' delight.

When Doherty miscued a clearance on 41 minutes, both sides let it bounce, and it summed up two teams quite nervous about their predicament not only in the league but in the game as well.

The U's then failed to clear their lines from a corner and Evans shot, hit into the ground, was well blocked by Sheringham as the home team kept the Canaries at bay.

Straight down the other end and a U's free kick saw Platt half volley an effort wide on the turn, before Granville had to clear under pressure from Cureton as the Canaries went forward.

The half finished scoreless, though, and the U's would have been encouraged by their display overall in the first half. In particular in defence, where the number of crosses had been restricted throughout the opening forty-five minutes.

But they were relieved two minutes after the restart as Cureton escaped the offside trap to bear in on goal but, presented with a chance he had scored many times in U's colours, he pulled his shot well wide.

At the other end, Izzet followed up his lengthy clearance to get onto a Sheringham knock down, but could only hit his high half volley at Marshall, who collected easily.

Yeates did better with a low cross not long afterwards, but again Marshall was on hand to collect.

The U's were still showing nerves on the ball, though, and Cureton nearly capitalised with a sharp turn in the box that needed a good block from Virgo to clear the danger.

At the other end, the U's then created their best chance of the game as Sheringham and Yeates combined for Platt to fire in a fierce shot that Marshall did superbly to turn over the bar.

Cureton was desperate to score against his former side, again twisting and turning on 56 minutes to try and contrive some space in the box, and when his shot was eventually blocked once more, the pass seemed the better option.

The visitors were starting to turn the screw though and seeing their side starting to be pinned back, the home side lifted the volume to encourage them forward.

And they were almost instantly rewarded as the ball was sent into the area and as he burst in to head the ball at the far post, Yeates appeared to be tripped but the referee showed no interest in awarding the spot kick.

With the score goalless as the hour mark arrived, Glenn Roeder introduced Darren Huckerby to provide more pace to trouble the U's with and Dion Dublin to provide the aerial outlet alongside Cureton.

The U's were fragmented going forwards but were continuing to offer themselves up in attack and McLeod could consider himself unlucky that his retrieval of the ball down by the byline didn't gain greater rewards as Marshall clutched the ball gratefully.

The left winger then sent over another high cross on 65 minutes, which Sheringham went for and again fell in the box but not even the U's fans were convinced of the spot kick chances this time around.

Dublin and Huckerby both contributed quickly after they were introduced, combining for the latter to strike a shot that was well blocked once again.

And seeing the impact his subs had had, Roeder completed his changes on 69 minutes, introducing Croft as his final change. The winger was still trotting on when Shackell miscued a header from a corner, just about allowing the U's to clear.

Izzet was doing his bit to drive the home team forward, as he bore down on every loose ball in an attempt to push the U's on.

The team responded and Yeates had a shot blocked on 73 minutes that went for a corner and it needed Marshall to collect well when the set piece was sent over.

Huckerby then rounded Baldwin in the box after stealing the ball off Connolly, but a series of fortunate deflections got the ball away for the U's.

Jamie Guy came on for Sheringham for the final 15 minutes as the U's added some pace up front, and the home team immediately had a chance or two.

And when McLeod flicked on an Izzet through ball, Guy could consider himself unlucky not to have had a clearer sight of goal as his shot was eventually blocked.

The U's forced a series of corners, and the final one gave the U's a massive goal with ten minutes to go. It was sent in low at the near post and, amongst a host of bodies, McLeod reacted quickest to lift the ball high into the net.

From a nervy Layer Road fearing a late goal against their side, the home side were again alive and eager to guide their team through to the final whistle, which was a lengthy ten minutes away.

The visitors then had two massive opportunities to draw level. First Virgo grappled with Croft as the ball came across, with strong appeals for a City penalty.

And then, as the U's struggled to clear their lines, a dinked Huckerby cross found Russell's glanced header, which bounced off the outside of the post as Baldwin hooked to safety.

The U's then had a gilt edged chance of their own to double the lead and close out the game. McLeod won the challenge and ran away with the ball and sent in Guy on goal.

The striker could have shot early, but opted to round the keeper and Otsemobor did well to deny him just as he was about to shoot.

A minute later and Guy turned provider, laying the ball back to Yeates, but the winger miscontrolled the ball as he went to strike it and a good chance was gone.

And those misses proved crucial as the visitors drew level with only a minute left on the clock. A free kick was drifted into the box and as it fell at the far post, Cureton and a U's defender went for the ball and it was bundled over the line.

Cureton was clearly delighted with the goal and eyed Terrace Three with eyes ablaze as the home fans were silenced as Granville's desperate clearance went over the line.

The U's went again in injury time in search of a second and McLeod didn't strike his half volley cleanly enough to beat the scrambling Marshall.

And the spoils were shared yet again as the Norwich equaliser was enough to give them a point.

The fans had done their bit, the players had responded but once more, the three points and the clean sheet proved elusive.

Att: 5,560