Colchester United’s wait for a home win under Danny Cowley goes on after a late equaliser from Accrington Stanley in a 1-1 draw at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The U’s looked in control of the game and took a deserved lead through Noah Chilvers midway through the first half.
And it looked as though the hosts would add to their tally when Accrington were reduced to ten men after a nasty challenge from Brad Hills at the start of the second period.
But the visitors netted a late equaliser as Riley Harbottle put the ball through his own net with ten minutes to go. The U’s kept fighting but couldn’t find a late winner.
The point sees the U’s move up one place to twenty-first, facing a trip to bottom side Sutton United next weekend.
Danny Cowley named a team with one change from the eleven that started seven days ago against Harrogate Town. John Akinde came in for the injured Harry Anderson, with the U’s making a slight alteration to their shape too.
Remaining with a back four of Iandolo, Hall, Harbottle and Richardson, Ali Smith was joined by Noah Chilvers in the defensive midfield position. Cameron McGeehan and Jayden Fevrier were operating on the flanks with Tom Hopper lining up just behind John Akinde in attack.
After an even first ten minutes, the game was brought to life in favour of the U’s when Riley Harbottle took aim from twenty-five yards. He was allowed the space to shoot, with Vitek called into action to push the ball over the crossbar.
A lively John Akinde then had his first effort on goal, and one that was mightily close to opening the scoring. A cross from the right flank was accurate for Akinde to head towards goal, with the ball bouncing just wide of the mark, maybe even catching the post on its way out for play to reset.
The U’s progress was halted after nineteen minutes after a nasty foul on Ali Smith by Kelvin Mellor. The Accrington midfielder threw his elbow into Smith’s face, only receiving a yellow card for the offence from referee Jeremy Simpson.
The second booking of the game was shown to Colchester United’s Ellis Iandolo for a late challenge on Nolan on the far side after twenty-eight minutes, bringing another steady period of the game.
But that steady period only lasted ten minutes as Noah Chilvers took it upon himself to rifle the U’s into the lead. Picking up the ball midway through the Accrington half, he drove through the away midfield to direct his shot into the bottom corner with Vitek at full stretch.
Chilvers’ strike proved enough to be the difference between the two teams at the half, as Danny Cowley’s side pressed for a second right up until the referee blew his whistle.
There were no changes at the break, but it was a lively start to the second half, with Brad Hills shown a straight red card for catching Tom Hopper in the face when the ball had run out of play – the visitors would have to play forty-four minutes with a man less.
John Coleman responded for the visitors with a triple change ten minutes later. Bickerstaff, Conneely and J. Woods were all brought off with Adekoya, Martin and Trickett coming on to try and help Accrington get something from the game.
The U’s made their first change of the game eight minutes further into the game with John Akinde replaced by Conor Wilkinson after a tireless performance.
Danny Cowley’s side now had a spring in their step and were pressing to find the second goal that would put the game to bed. Jayden Fevrier and Cameron McGeehan both had efforts that were straight at Vitek, with Chilvers going close to getting his second of the afternoon after taking possession on the outside of the area with less than half an hour to play.
But the U’s had to be wary of the threat on the counter-attack. On as a second-half substitute, Leslie Adekoya led the charge for the visitors, and shot just over the top corner of Goodman’s goal with twenty minutes to go – a warning sign for the home team.
Riley Harbottle was booked as the visitors mounted another challenge on the U’s goal, bringing down Tommy Leigh on the halfway line before any real danger. And Danny Cowley made another change before the free kick was taken; Jay Mingi was brought on for the last fifteen to replace Cameron McGeehan in midfield.
Accrington got back into the game with an undeserved equaliser. A deflected cross caught Harbottle out, with the U’s defender directing the ball beyond Goodman and into his own goal with just over ten to play.
As the game entered seven minutes of stoppage time, the U’s brought on Owura Edwards for Jayden Fevrier to go in search of a late winner at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Edwards was shown a card in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a high boot, with the U’s forced to settle for just a point.
The draw sees the U’s climb up one place to twenty-first, moving above Grimsby Town after their 5-1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers.
Next up, the U’s travel to fellow strugglers Sutton United on Saturday afternoon.
Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Iandolo, Hall, Chilvers, McGeehan (Mingi 77’), Hopper, Harbottle, Akinde (Wilkinson 65’), Richardson, A. Smith, Fevrier (Edwards 90’).
Subs: Hornby (GK), Dallison, Jay, Wilkinson, Edwards, Mingi, Ihionvien.
Accrington Stanley starting XI: Vitek, Shipley, Mellor, Hills, B. Woods, Nolan, Leigh, Bickerstaff (Adekoya 56’), Conneely (Martin 55’), O’Brien, J. Woods (Trickett 56’).
Subs: Quirk, Pickles, Adekoya, Trickett, Martin, Henderson, McIntyre.
Attendance: 3,436