Colchester United completed an unbeaten Christmas period on Monday, as they shared the spoils with East Anglian neighbours Cambridge United.
The home side had the better of the first half with a string of half chances, before Cambridge rose into the ascendancy after the interval.
But the U's then had chances themselves in the last ten minutes to win it, as John McGreal's men made it six points from their festive fixtures.
At the other end, Szmodics seized on a loose ball to break towards the Cambridge box. Given his recent record, the crowd were on the edge of the seats, but he was denied by a good tackle by Legge in the area.
Wright almost ended his own wait for a goal on 13 minutes, seizing on some confusion in the Cambridge defence, but hooking his effort the wrong side of the side netting with Forde out of position.
Next, a Jackson throw in caused trouble in the box and Kent’s first time half volley went just wide of the upright as the U’s sought the opener.
The visitors were growing into the game, but it was again the U’s who went close again on 28 minutes as Lapslie drove forward and sent in a great pass for Wright who, under pressure, forced Forde into a low save.
And whilst Cambridge had good moments of possession, it continued to be the U’s who were a goal threat, with Wright forcing Forde into another save with a good header.
Kpekawa had enjoyed a strong first half and was in the right place to deny Brown in the box as he looked like he might test Walker.
A good U’s move followed and Mandron set it back into the path of Wright, who skewed his shot just off target.
Next, Vincent-Young got to the byline and drove in a low cross that somehow eluded the efforts of Wright and Mandron, as well as the three Cambridge defenders on the line.
The first half ended goalless, and it was the visitors who started the second half with some pressure on the U’s area.
Ikpeazu fended off Lapslie eight minutes into the second half to slide the ball into the path of Brown, but his shot was straight at Walker.
Vincent-Young embarked on a trademark run into the Cambridge area and went to ground and, whilst the U’s fans in the South Stand wanted a penalty, referee Mr Breakspear had no interest in the home appeals.
The U’s made their first change on the hour mark, introducing Kurtis Guthrie for Drey Wright for the remainder of the game.
But Cambridge continued to have a slight edge and Walker pulled off a good stop to turn away Brown’s curling effort from just outside the box.
Eastman then defended superbly to flick a cross away from danger with Ikpeazu lingering and the U’s were in need of some respite to see off the visitors’ pressure.
The U’s number eighteen was then involved at the other end of the pitch as he drove just off target as Kent headed back across goal from a Comley cross.
It was a rare respite as the U’s continued to be under pressure and they made their final change with ten minutes to go, as Mandron was replaced by Brandon Hanlan.
Guthrie then had a sight of goal as he embarked on a darting run towards goal and, as Forde narrowed the angle, his shot flew just past the far post.
Jackson then stepped forward to drive in a fierce shot that Forde turned away from danger as the U’s sought the winner.
But the game was to end all square as the U's kept their points tally ticking over as 2018 gets underway.