Norwich City 2, Colchester United 2

Substitute Darel Russell revelled in a striker's role when he scored twice in the space of three minutes in Norwich City's final pre-season friendly at Carrow Road.

Russell, again left out of the starting line-up, replaced Italian loan signing Arturo Lupoli at half-time and produced two excellent goals - but they were not enough for victory in front of a crowd of 7,464.

League One side Colchester led at the interval through Steve Gillespie, who scored in the final minute of the first half after an error by loan signing John Kennedy.

But the game burst into life in the space of five second-half minutes.

Russell levelled on the hour with a delightful curling effort from 25 yards, then made it 2-1 three minutes later when he tucked home a cross from Lee Croft.

The visitors were level inside two minutes, however, when Anthony Wordsworth scored his fifth pre-season goal.

City fans were given their first glimpse of two of manager Glenn Roeder's 10 new signings with defender Kennedy, on loan from Celtic until January 1, and striker Lupoli, on a year's loan from Fiorentina, both given international clearance in time to play.

They replaced Jon Otsemobor and Lee Croft from the eleven that started Monday's game against Tottenham, while Jason Shackell was also included in place of the injured Ryan Bertrand.

The game kicked off at 5pm because of Roeder's anxiety to avoid the mid-afternoon heat, but ironically there was heavy rain and grey skies before the start.

Cureton, with three goals in City's previous three warm-up games, almost gave them the lead inside two minutes when Pattison, operating wide on the right, set him up for a stinging right-foot shot that goalkeeper Gerken managed to parry.

One minute later, the visitors hit back and Gillespie fired wide after bursting clear on the Colchester left.

Shackell, operating at left-back, joined the next City attack and his low cross caught the heel of Colchester skipper Coyne, but Gerken was alert enough to gather the deflection.

There was a delay after 15 minutes while Stefanovic needed treatment following a challenge by Wordsworth, both sets of players taking the opportunity for a welcome drink as the ground was now bathed in bright sunshine.

Lupoli earned a lecture from referee Wright for a late challenge on White, the Colchester right-back needing attention.

Lupoli, wearing bright red boots, then set up striking partner Cureton for a shot, but it was charged down by Hammond.

With 31 minutes gone, Omozusi found Lupoli in just enough space to test Gerken with a low, curling left-foot shot.

Colchester won a corner when Wordsworth's shot took a deflection off Omozusi but the flag-kick was wasted.

Hammond earned a ticking-off for a foul on Hoolahan, but there was little to raise the temperature.

Three minutes before the break, Gillespie sent a swerving left-foot shot wide - and in the final minute of the half, Colchester took the lead.

A miskick by Kennedy, who seemed to get the ball caught between his feet, handed Gillespie the opening inside the Norwich area and he curled in a left-foot shot that Marshall could only palm into the net.

t Half-time: Norwich City 0, Colchester United 1

Croft and Russell replaced Lupoli and Pattison at the restart, Russell taking up an attacking position alongside Cureton.

Three minutes into the half, Russell fired wide with a shot on the turn.

Russell was spoken to by the referee after a challenge on White as the full-back attempted to clear, but the substitute had something to cheer on the hour when he levelled the scores with a stunning goal.

Croft and Hoolahan combined to set up Russell and he advanced to five yards outside the Colchester area before curling a delightful right-foot shot past Gerken.

Shackell headed just over as City, buoyed by their equaliser, stepped up the tempo.

With 63 minutes gone, Russell made it 2-1 with another excellent finish.

Hoolahan fed Croft on the right and the winger's low cross was met first time at the near post by Russell, whose shot clipped the inside of the post on its way in.

Two minutes later, Colchester drew level when Yeates picked out Wordsworth and the youngster kept his cool to beat Marshall from close range.

Yeates fired wide as the U's pushed forward again, then a cross by Jackson was allowed across the City area and was desperately close to Marshall's left-hand post.

City made a triple change with nine minutes left when Otsemobor, Martin and Chadwick were introduced, but could not conjure up a winning goal.

t Result: Norwich City 2, Colchester United 2

t Norwich City: Marshall; Omozusi, Kennedy (Otsemobor, 81 min), Stefanovic, Shackell; Pattison (Croft, 45 min), Clingan, Fotheringham, Hoolahan (Chadwick, 81 min); Cureton (Martin, 81 min), Lupoli (Russell, 45 min). Subs (not used) Nelson, Smith, Eagle, Renton.

Goals: Russell (60, 63)

t Colchester United - Gerken; White (Ifil, 81 min), Reid, Coyne, Lockwood; Yeates, Hammond (Izzet, 74 min), Jackson, Wordsworth (Elito, 68 min); Gillespie (Vernon, 60 min), Platt (Wasiu, 74 min). Sub (not used) Cousins.

Goals: Gillespie (45), Wordsworth (65)

t Referee - K Wright

t Attendance - 7,464