CHRIS LAKEY Luke Chadwick tucked another 90 minutes of action under his belt yesterday afternoon and declared himself ready for a start in Peter Grant's senior side.

CHRIS LAKEY

Norwich Res 2, Oxford Utd Res 2

Luke Chadwick tucked another 90 minutes of action under his belt yesterday afternoon and declared himself ready for a start in Peter Grant's senior side.

The Canaries midfielder has two short appearances as a sub to his name following his four-month injury absence, and came through his second full game for the reserves with no ill effects.

“It's brilliant to get another 90 minutes,” he said. “I'm really starting to feel fit now and obviously hoping to push for a place in the first team.

“It's two 90 minutes now and I feel really fit and hopefully I can keep training hard and get a game in the next couple of weeks.

“Even just playing a game out here it feels great just to be back fit again because it's been massively frustrating.”

Chadwick had a quiet first half at the Colney training centre yesterday in a game that saw City twice come from behind to gain a point against the bottom side in the Pontins Holiday Combination East Division.

Having spent the first half on the right flank, Chadwick took up a more central role after the break - and within minutes had taken the corner which led to the first equaliser.

“We changed the system a bit and played a bit better,” he said. “We were disappointed a bit in the first half. Second half we did a bit better but it still could have been better and we could have got a result really, but we worked really hard.

“I saw a bit more of the ball in the second half playing just behind the striker. I don't mind where I play as long as I'm playing, but it was good to get 90 minutes, that's the main thing.”

It was an inexperienced City side which found itself a goal down after just three minutes, Billy Beechers' shot taking a deflection off the foot of Michael Spillane and looping over keeper Steven Arnold.

Andrew Younie had a goal disallowed for offside as City struggled to find any rhythm, although speedy winger Bally Smart was unlucky on 32 minutes when he received a good pass on the left from Robert Eagle, made inroads into the area but saw his effort cleared off the line by Matt Day.

Chadwick moved central after the break, with Smart pushed to the right and on 53 minutes it was all square. Chadwick's corner was flicked on by Seb Muddel but a host of players failed to make contact - until it reached defender Alvin Quaye who stabbed the ball home from close range.

City's joy lasted just eight minutes, with Aaron Posey glancing a header past Arnold to put the visitors ahead, but there was another twist in the tale, Michael Spillane converting from the penalty spot after Eagle had been grappled to the ground by James Clarke.

Chadwick walking off the pitch with no ill effects was more important to Grant than the result - especially with four games in 15 days coming up, starting with Colchester on Saturday.

t Norwich: Arnold, Colin, Spillane, Quaye, O'Toole, Chadwick, Bexfield, Lathrope, Eagle, Smart, Muddel. Subs not used: Eames, Miller, Daley.

t Oxford: Tardiff, Clarke, Weedon, Malvany, Gunn, Day, Younie, Meade (Mott 83), Beechers, Posey, Gonzalez (Abin 86). Subs not used: Tucker, Warrell.

t Ref: G Horwood.