Colchester United and Coventry City shared the spoils in the U's U23s final home game of 2018.
It was the visitors who had the first sight of goal when Jack Burroughs was first to a corner, but he could only lift his flicked effort over the bar.
And three minutes later, the U's were in front, as Ryan Clampin drove into the box and squared it for Eoin McKeown to lift it high into the net from close range.
The game became an evenly contested affair, with Jonny Ngandu hit an effort that dipped just over the bar.
Warde was booked for a foul on the half hour mark in a game that was keenly contested.
Chances remained at premium as both sides defended well and the U's went into the break ahead at half time.
The U's almost got their noses in front right after the restart as Miller drove into the box, but it was a good low save from Addai to keep things level.
At the other end, Hickman sent a free kick just wide, before the visitors got level on 55 minutes.
Burroughs broke into the box and slide home his finish past Ross to make it 1-1.
The U's then made two changes - first Barnes replaced the injured Agboola, before the night's triallist replaced Warde.
And the substitutions were completed when Sayer came on for Charles.
City were pressing late on and it was a fine low stop from Ross to keep the scores level.
McKeown was denied a second with a good block tackle as the U's looked for the winner, and the number nine also fired over with five minutes to go.
But it remained all square on the final whistle, as the U's drew for the first time in the league this season.
U's: Ross, Akolbire, Forino, Agboola (Barnes 61), Clampin, Kennedy, Warde (Triallist 61), Dunne, Miller, McKeown, Charles (Sayer 81)