REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER
On their travels to London, the U's gave a very good account of themselves as they faced the league leaders who had lost just once in the competition this season.

However there was an early scare as after just two minutes, as hesitation by full back Mitchell Nelson allowed the left winger to get in, but keeper Andrew Dickey was making a superb save to prevent a goal.

It was a good first half display by Colchester who defended well when needed but they were creating several good chances for themselves with Russell Malton prominent.

Indeed one of his efforts was scrambled off the line, and when the ball came out, Conor McCloskey was going close with an 18 yard volley.

With Malton and Perry Sansford continuing to pose problems, and the team showing great determination and good work ethic, the U's were a bit unfortunate to go into the break without a lead.

With the wind blowing in a North Westerly direction at the Harlington ground and favouring the hosts now in the second half, it was they who had a good spell after the interval.

Despite that Colchester continued to threaten and were then rewarded when they won a free kick on the edge of the box.

This saw McCloskey floating the ball in, and there was centre back Adam Bailey-Dennis rising high to put his header into the net via the crossbar after 53 minutes.

The home side had to respond and they were doing their best to get behind the visitors' backlines.

Just when it appeared that Colchester had done enough they were undone in the last quarter of an hour, when the cross came in and went over the head of keeper Dickey, it was left back Ben Griffiths now under pressure from the right winger, and it saw the ball coming off his shoulder, and going into his own net.

Late on, both sides huffed and puffed without further goals coming.

Given the effort of the boys, the team were a touch deflated that victory had been snatched from their hands, but a draw was a creditable result against the R's.

Team: Andrew Dickey, Mitchell Nelson, John Glowacki, Adam Bailey-Dennis, Ben Griffiths, Russell Malton, Louis O'Sullivan, Conor McCloskey, Sam Corcoran, Jordan Pavett and Perry Sansford

Unused subs: Shane Cusack, Jordan Lartey, Craig Arnott and Alex O'Leary