Freddie Sears struck a second half equaliser to earn the U's a deserved point against an organised Newport County side at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The visitors were ahead at half time, thanks to a superb strike from the League's top scorer, Dom Telford. But the Exiles were pegged back in the second half by the U's, thanks to Freddie Sears' eighth strike of the season in the seventy-seventh minute.
Hayden Mullins opted for one change to the side that started the 3-1 victory over Exeter City on Tuesday night, and it was a straight swap with Junior Tchamadeu being replaced by Cameron Coxe. Tchamadeu had a place on the bench for the evening, along with Miles Welch-Hayes, who took Chay Cooper's place among the substitutes.
Colchester United were able to create a couple of half chances for themselves in the opening twenty minutes of the game, with Dobra and Chilvers both having efforts. But neither were able to test Day in goal for the visitors.
Jake Turner was the first 'keeper to make a save, with an excellent double stop to prevent the Exiles from taking the lead. A clever through ball found Oli Cooper, but Turner made himself big and thwarted the low shot, getting his feet to the follow up from Courtney Baker-Richardson to keep the scores level.
Colchester United's goalkeeper was called into action once again, when the visitors had a free kick from the edge of the area five minutes later. Turner got across well to punch away Haynes' left-foot effort that was aimed at the far post.
But Turner could do nothing about the opener, when Sky Bet League Two top scorer, Dom Telford, put the visitors in front. Armando Dobra had the ball taken off him in a dangerous area, with Telford able to drive to the edge of the area, before curling his shot over Turner and into the top corner of the U's net.
And Telford's goal proved to be the difference between the two sides at the break. Noah Chilvers' drive brought the first save of the game out of Joe Day, with the Exiles' shot-stopper pressured by Freddie Sears, but the U's couldn't find the breakthrough and trailed at half time.
Hayden Mullins' side had a good spell of possession after the break, looking to break down the visitors. But a stubborn Newport County defence proved a formidable adversary for the home side, with the back three of Demetriou, Clarke and Bennett all sticking to their tasks well.
Limited to efforts from outside the area, Day remained almost untested for the opening period of the second half. Sears did well to get the better of Demetriou to deliver a cross along the six-yard line, but no Us player had anticipated the cross, before second-half substitute, Alan Judge fired just wide of the target moments after coming on.
With ten minutes to go though, Colchester United found a way back into the game to the delight of the home fans. Freddie Sears was the man on target, getting his second in as many games with a delightful chip over Day. Sears made the run in behind with Hannant's ball over the top to make it 1-1 and keep the game alive for the final ten minutes.
And in the last moments of the game, it looked as though there would be only one team who would score a winning goal, and that was Colchester United. But the organised visiting defence were able to dig in and prevent a late winner for the U's, with both sides earning a point in a tight affair.
The point moves the U's up to seventeenth, now with twenty-one points from eighteen games, although there is a full compliment of Sky Bet League Two fixtures to come on Saturday afternoon.
Up next for the U's, a trip to Swindon Town in the next round of the Papa John's Trophy, before returning back to North Essex next weekend for the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup against Wigan Athletic.
Colchester United starting XI: Turner, Chambers, Smith, Hannant (Eastman 90'), Skuse, Sears, Chilvers, Jasper (Judge 61'), Dobra (McCoulsky 75'), Daniels, Coxe.
Unused subs: Gerken, Welch-Hayes, Nouble, Tchamadeu.
Newport County starting XI: Day, Norman, Haynes, Clarke, Willmott, Baker-Richardson, Bennett, Azaz, Telford, Demetriou, Cooper.
Unused subs: Fisher, Lewis, Abraham, Collins, Ellison, Cain, Townsend.