A red card on the hour mark changed the complexion of Colchester United's afternoon at Boundary Park, as they forewent a two goal advantage to end up sharing the spoils at Boundary Park.

Marc Tierney's departure shortly after the second of the U's two goals came at a stage when the U's were coasting and in control of the game.

But a penalty shortly afterwards gave the Latics hope and the U's were unable to resist the pressure as the home team battled back for a point.

The U's made two changes to their side for the game at Boundary Park, with Kevin Lisbie back in the team in place of Phil Ifil down the right and John-Joe O'Toole returning in the heart of the team.

O'Toole lined up alongside David Fox, whilst Anthony Wordsworth moved out to the left hand side in place of Simon Hackney.

The U's started the game brightly, winning a throw and then a corner in a dangerous position within the first minute of the game, and from the latter set piece, O'Toole headed well over the bar under pressure.

The home side responded in kind with a corner of their own a minute or so later, and although it was initially cleared, it was helped into the danger area and Williams was unable to collect cleanly.

The ball dropped to Hazell about eight yards out and the U's keeper recovered to get his shoulder in the way of the defender's shot to deflect it over the bar.

In an open start to the game, the U's were then presented with a great chance to take the lead.

Lisbie bided his time before lofting a ball over the Latics defence and as Wordsworth and Marrow beared down on goal, it looked like the U's midfielder might just slot home past Flahavan before the home player poked the ball off his toe and away for a corner.

Two minutes later and Lisbie, Platt and Odejayi broke as a triumvirate on the home defence and, as Odejayi peeled out wide, Lisbie's through ball was just overhit and Flahavan collected.

The returning Lisbie then went close again on nine minutes as Platt and White combined for the latter to send over a cross that Lisbie got his head to, flashing a header past the post.

The U's were bright in the early stages and a clever Platt knock down fell into the path of O'Toole and his long range shot was deflected behind for a corner.

The resultant set piece was not fully cleared by the home defence and although Odejayi slipped on his way to get the ball, Fox snaffled it up and took his time before smashing the ball between Flahavan's legs to give the U's the lead.

The U's continued their good progress as the quarter hour mark approached, and O'Toole arched his head to flick an effort just beyond the far post from White's cross with Flahavan scrambling.

The home crowd were starting to get a touch frustrated, particularly as their side were slow to react to a couple of half clearances that could have been more fruitful with a swifter response.

Midway through the half, White ventured forwards and skipped inside one challenge before drilling in a shot that took a deflection as it looped over the crossbar for a corner.

That was delivered into the box and Odejayi met the ball, only for his glancing header to go just past the far post.

In a rare chance for the home team on 26 minutes, Blackman ventured forwards to strike in a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner before Williams snapped it up with an excellent save.

A minute later, Okuonghae hauled down his man on the edge of the box, down by the byline, and the free kick was taken cleverly to Whittaker, whose shot was deflected away to safety by Tierney.

The home side were having their first positive spell of the half and after some good work by Colbeck down the left, a cross to the near post was glanced wide by Taylor from about ten yards out.

The conditions were playing their part with the wind sweeping across Boundary Park, and Williams missed a punch five minutes before the break, but he saw his defence clear the ball away from danger.

The Latics were pressuring the U's, and Tierney went into the book just before the break for a foul on Smalley, and the free kick shot towards the near post was well blocked by the same U's man.

From the resultant corner, the U's failed to clear and again Smalley was in the thick of it, with his shot deflected over the bar by some brave U's defending as the visitors got to the half in front.

After some respite at the break, the U's got back on the front foot at the start of the second half, and they doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart of play.

From the second free kick awarded to them in the second half, Wordsworth whipped in a wicked ball across the area and it found Odejayi's powerful header which flew past Flahavan and into the far side netting.

The home side nearly got back into the match not long afterwards though as Marrow's shot, which had flicked up off Tierney, was clawed away from danger by Williams, with the follow-up effort sidefooted wide.

Then, amidst much confusion, Tierney was sent off by the referee. It appeared that it was Wordsworth that committed the foul, but the left back had a second yellow flashed at him having been adjudged to have kicked the ball away.

The U's made an instant change as Lisbie came off, with Ifil coming on at right back and White moving across to the left.

The visitors would need to stand firm, but they conceded a penalty around five minutes after being reduced to ten men. The ball was cut back to Taylor and he was just clipped by Okuonghae as he went to shoot.

The same player picked himself up to take the penalty awarded by referee Mr Ilderton, and although Williams got fingertips to it, it still found its way into the back of the net.

It had been a frantic few moments which had brought the previously quiet home crowd to life, but the U's nearly got in again midway through the half.

Fox picked an excellent pass to send Odejayi away, but the home keeper was quick off his line to head the ball away from danger.

The U's made their first change shortly afterwards, replacing goalscorer Fox with the more combative Izzet as the visitors looked to firm up the midfield against the increasing Latics pressure.

Colbeck was the next to go close, picking up a loose ball thirty yards out on the half volley and smashing in an effort that skimmed the roof of the net with Williams backpedalling furiously.

The U's were trying their best to quell the Latics storm, and defending manfully as the home side were trying to find a second path to goal.

In order to find that second goal, Brooke was introduced for the final quarter of an hour, playing against a U's side sitting deeper as the final stages of the match approached.

It was meaning that the U's were struggling to get out at the back and they introduced as Platt came off to be replaced by Paul Reid for final ten to fifteen minutes.

The substitute had not touched the ball before the Latics went close again. Colbeck's ball across goal was just missed by Brooke, before Whitaker's shot went just wide of the target.

Parker was introduced with nine minutes remaining and he watched on as another effort was deflected just beyond the far post.

With Reid sitting in a defensive midfield role, the Latics had four strikers on for the last moments of the game as they sought an equaliser.

The rain was pouring on both teams at this stage, and Williams pulled off a superb save from a Blackman header, but the free kick had already been given by the referee.

But the pressure eventually told and a header from close range from Brooke left Williams with no chance from close range as his effort powered into the net.

And, only seconds after the goal, Whitaker got in for another header, but this time Williams hand came from nowhere to block at the foot of his post and ensure that the scores remained level.

The pressure remained relentless deep into injury time, but the U's resisted any further damage as they shaed the spoils.

U's: Williams, White, Okuonghae, Batth, Tierney, Wordsworth, O'Toole, Fox (Izzet), Lisbie (Ifil), Platt (Reid), Odejayi

Subs: Cousins, Heath, Hackney, Gillespie

Att: 3,607 (205 away)