Colchester United have picked up another point with their fourth straight draw after a 1-1 stalemate with Stevenage.
The U’s had a half-time lead to defend after Connor Hall had blasted his side ahead in the opening twenty minutes.
But a quick response from the hosts, and former U’s man Alex Gilbey, in the second half earned a point for the promotion chasers.
Ben Garner named a starting eleven with two changes – Ossama Ashley returned to the lineup, alongside Freddie Sears who was making his first start in blue and white since the U’s FA Cup defeat to Newport County in November.
They took the places of Matt Jay and Samson Tovide who were sat in the dugout amongst the substitutes.
Starting with the familiar 3-5-2 formation, Chambers captained the side from the right of defence, alongside Fiacre Kelleher and Connor Hall who had recovered from a knock in the last seven days.
Junior Tchamadeu and Connor Wood took their familiar place on the right and left flank, with Chilvers, Ashley and Read making up the midfield. Freddie Sears was handed a start for the first time under Ben Garner alongside Tom Hopper leading the attack.
The early stages of the contest saw the U’s penned in as the hosts applied early pressure. Kieran O’Hara was twice called into action with headers from Rose and Piergianni, but the U’s shot-stopper was equal to the tame attempts.
Arthur Read was issued the first yellow card of the game on his return to his former club – the combative midfielder was harshly adjudged to have fouled Sweeney in the attacking third as Stevenage aimed to get their noses in front.
But despite the pressure from Steve Evans’ side, the U’s were the ones to take the lead. Connor Hall stuck his first goal since his January transfer from Port Vale from inside the penalty area after a neatly worked free kick between Noah Chilvers and the returning Freddie Sears.
Pressure came back from the hosts as Gilbey‘s looped header found the hands of O’Hara, but Stevenage had seemed to lose the composure they had in the early stages.
Two further chances fell for Ben Garner’s side with neither Luke Chambers nor Freddie Sears able to make the desired contact to double the U’s advantage, but the visitors looked comfortable with their lead.
The two teams headed to the changing rooms with Colchester holding the advantage, with plenty of players in blue and white putting in the hard graft for their side.
Ben Garner made one change at the break with Samson Tovide coming on for Freddie Sears, as the U’s found themselves pegged back within two minutes of the restart.
Former Colchester United midfielder Alex Gilbey collected the ball at a tight angle from Jordan Roberts, with his low shot just squeezing under Kieran O’Hara for the equaliser on forty-seven minutes.
Another former U’s man was brought on as a Stevenage reinforcement soon after, with Luke Norris entering the action in place of Jamie Reid after an hour of play.
Norris had a good chance to net against his former employers soon after, but couldn’t find the target after a drilled cross from close range. The U’s would also have a chance of their own a minute further into the contest as Ossama Ashley’s looping cross was attacked by Luke Chambers, before Lo-Tutala pulled out a fine save to keep the scores level.
The U’s made a second change of the afternoon with fifteen minutes to play as former Stevenage man Arthur Read made way for Marley Marshall Miranda.
Shortly after, Luke Norris had to be replaced just twenty minutes after coming on when he picked up what looked like a serious injury to his right foot. He was carried off as Jake Taylor took his place for the final ten minutes.
The U’s made a third change to go in search of a second goal with Hopper replaced by Akinde, while the hosts replaced Vancooten and Forster-Caskey with Horgan and Bostwick in the eighty-eighth.
It preceded seven nervy minutes for the U’s and a period where the hosts would have the ball in the net again. Luckily for Ben Garner’s side, Stevenage were denied a ninety-seventh minute winner after a foul on Kieran O’Hara in the build up, and would leave the Lamex with a point.
The draw keeps the U’s a point ahead of the drop zone in twenty-first with thirty-nine points from forty matches. Up next, a return to the JobServe Community Stadium with Crewe on Monday afternoon.
Stevenage starting XI: Lo-Tutala, James-Wildin, Clark, Piergianni, Sweeney, Roberts, Vancooten (Horgan 88’), Gilbey, Reid (Norris 59’ (Taylor 80’)), Forster-Caskey (Bostwick 88’), Rose.
Subs: Przybek, Taylor, Norris, Smith, Horgan, Bostwick, Tomkinson.
Colchester United starting XI: O’Hara, Chambers, Sears (Tovide 46’), Chilvers, Kelleher, Read (Marshall Miranda 74’), Ashley, Tchamadeu, Wood, Hopper (Akinde 86’), Hall.
Subs: Smith, Greenidge, Jay, Akinde, Marshall Miranda, Tovide, Fevrier.
Attendance: 4,763 (624)