Colchester United had to make do with a point on Saturday, as Morecambe kept them at bay on a chilly November afternoon.
Like a week before at Barnet, chances were at a premium through the afternoon.
But unlike that game at The Hive, they were unable to find that one goal that would have given them all three points and pushed them higher up the League Two table.
They came within inches of that crucial moment, though, as Drey Wright unleashed an effort that cannoned off the crossbar, with visiting keeper Barry Roche well beaten.
The U’s started on the front foot and were moving the Morecambe defence around in the early stages.
They had a chance on six minutes when Mikael Mandron got up the highest at a corner, but Roche scooped his header away from danger.
The home side continued to press and Eastman slid in a ball to the feet of Hanlan, who turned sharply, only for Lavelle to turn it behind for a corner.
Next, a corner won by Jackson’s block shot saw Inniss half volley towards goal, but Roche was on hand to pluck it out of the air.
The visitors had a big chance on 25 minutes as the ball was nodded across to Old, who missed from close range.
And they had a golden chance when Frankie Kent mislaid a backpass and Wildig got in on goal. Walker forced him wide and then saved well from the follow up.
The two teams went into the break goalless, and Inniss had the first chance of the second half, as he got up the highest to a Jackson cross, and his header dropped inches wide of the upright.
The U’s were not able to get into their stride, though, and introduced Craig Slater for Brandon Comley as they looked for something different in the match.
Chances for either side remained at a premium throughout and the U’s added Drey Wright and Kyel Reid for the last thirteen minutes in place of Hanlan and Eastman.
Reid almost had an immediate impact as he bustled his way to the byline and cut it back for Szmodics, but he slipped at the crucial moment and the chance was gone.
The subs had made an impression and the U’s created some pressure in the final stages as Reid caused the visitors problems down the left.
And a moment of quality almost sealed it for the U’s late in the game. Wright moved onto a loose ball and unleashed a dipping effort that beat Roche all ends up, but cannoned back off the woodwork.
It deserved better but, although the U’s tried to unlock the Morecambe defence, it wasn’t to be as the spoils were shared on a chilly afternoon.