GALLERY: Colchester United 0 Tottenham 0

Colchester United held Premier League visitors Tottenham to a goalless draw at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on Friday.

Spurs brought a strong squad – minus reported Manchester United target Gareth Bale – and gave run-outs to stars such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Michael Dawson, Jermain Defoe and Huge Lloris.

It was the League One hosts’ two keepers – Sam Walker and Mark Cousins – that stole show though, both custodians making impressive stops in either half.

The U’s began the brighter team, kicking towards the visiting fans, and almost caught Andre Villa-Boas’ team napping.

A corner from the left was headed back into the danger area, but ex-Arsenal man Sanchez Watt could only crash a left-foot volley from six yards out against the near post.

The visitors were happy to take their time in finding the right pass and after Adebayor was sent scampering down the right, the big striker from Togo could only find goalkeeper Walker with his centre.

Walker, who impressed during a loan spell at Weston Homes Community Stadium last season, then showed why he has been snapped up for a second spell in Essex, making two smart stops in the space of two minutes – both from Andros Townsend.

On both occasions, the former Ipswich Town loanee cut inside on his left foot from the right and fired stinging efforts towards the near post. However, Walker was equal to the efforts, parrying one shot out for a corner and the other away to safety.

The game was being played at typical pre-season pace, especially on such a balmy evening, but the U’s still looked threatening and, from another cross that was not cleared, skipper David Wright fired a fierce effort that went just a yard over Brad Friedel’s bar.

However, it was Friedel’s opposite number Walker that was fast becoming the star of the show as he further enhanced his credentials with a wonderful one-handed save, tipping over Jargo Falque’s stunning volley from the edge of the box. That came after initial good defending had seen Daniel Pappoe leap to take the ball off the on-rushing Adebayor’s head with a good piece of anticipation.

Spurs made whoselsale changes in the second half, but it was Townsend, so imppressive in the first period, who fired an early shot over.

Freddie Sears brought a good save out of Lloris, the Frenchman palming a low effort wide, before Walker smothered Harry Kane’s close-range effort.

Cousins, who was eventually to win the man-of-the-match, was one of several subs introduced for the hosts and he was soon in the thick of the action.

Having escaped a scare when his clearance crashed off Defoe and bounced wide – reminiscent of Joe Cole’s opener for West Ham on Tuesday – he watched as Kane’s effort wrong-footed him before hitting the post.

However he soon atoned, showing what he is capable of, by making a couple of impressive stops from the England striker.

PHOTOS: Lucy Taylor