Exeter City gained a hard fought point in the Under-23 Premier League Cup against Norwich City at St James Park.
The away side took the lead just after the 20-minute mark with a good effort from Ant Spyrou, before Ben Seymour notched a leveller for the Grecians just before half-time.
Under-23 boss Dan Green made three changes to the side that began the loss to Nottingham Forest in the first round of matches, as Felix Norman and James Dodd came into the side, as well as Jimmy Oates, who made his return from injury.
For much of the opening 20 minutes the Grecians looked comfortable in possession and arguably created the better of the chances than the Canaries.
A high press saw the likes of Seymour and Josh Key unsettle the Norwich back line at times, but it was Jack Sparkes who almost put City ahead on 17 minutes when he hit a powerful effort from the edge of the box and forced Jon McCracken into a smart stop.
Another exquisite attempt from distance saw the game’s opening goal, but it came from the away side, when Spyrou cut in from the left to shoot from outside the box into the top left corner to give the away side the advantage on 22 minutes.
Spyrou was almost at it again shortly after when he hit a powerful drive against the crossbar before the City defenders scurried the ball away.
City then had Norman to thank when Norwich broke and Isak Thorvaldsson managed to work some space at the near post before shooting, but for the City keeper who pushed the ball onto the bar.
The Grecians still carried a threat on the counter despite Norwich moving the ball well through midfield.
The leveller for City came on the stroke of half-time when Joel Randall tricked inside before crossing low, and amongst a crowd of bodies, the ball broke kindly for Seymour to tap home from a few yards out.
After the break Norwich hit the bar once again just before the hour mark when Devante Aransibia struck a thunderous effort against the woodwork, before City created a chance of their own when Sparkes crossed for Seymour, who miscued his effort.
Chances became fewer as the match wore on with the Grecians more than matching their opponents.
A golden opportunity fell for Will Dean in the 82nd minute when he stooped to get on the end of a City corner, but he could only direct his attempt straight at the Norwich keeper who caught the ball well.
Despite a late header from Spyrou, which clipped the top of Norman’s crossbar, the Grecians managed to see out a well-earned draw at St James Park.
Exeter City: Norman, Oates (Morison, 67), Randall, Kite, Key, Sparkes, Seymour, Dodd (Lawrence, 84), Dyer, Smallcombe, Dean
Subs not used: Weale, Diabate, Wilson
Booked:
Norwich City: McCracken, Kamal, Richards, Jones, Odusina, Payne, Spyrou, Philips (Milovanovic, 62), Thorvaldsson, Scully (Coley, 68), Aransibia
Subs not used: Lomas, Johnso
Booked:
Attendance: 253