Colchester United were made to settle for just a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Forest Green Rovers at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Getting anything from the game seemed unlikely at the break for the U’s at half time. Goals from Matty Stevens and Christian Doidge saw Colchester trailing.
But a spirited second half performance, with three goals in the space of ten minutes meant Colchester United were trailing 3-2 with twenty minutes to play.
Alistair Smith and Harry Anderson netted their first goals for the club, with Jayden Fevrier also getting on the scoresheet in the afternoon, before a bobbling Dom Thompson effort got the better of Owen Goodman at the other end.
It meant the U’s would have to settle for only a point against Forest Green Rovers, with a trip to high-flying Harrogate Town to come next weekend.
Danny Cowley made one enforced change for the latest match against Forest Green Rovers, with Cameron McGeehan missing out on the matchday eighteen after his head injury against Morecambe last weekend.
Harry Anderson was drafted in as his replacement, giving the Stevenage loanee his first start for the club in an otherwise unchanged eleven. Jay Mingi made a welcome return to the squad, taking his place amongst the substitutes, with Ihionvien also brought back into the fray after missing last weekend’s trip to Morecambe.
The formation remained the same, with Owen Goodman in goal behind a back four of Richardson, Hall, Harbottle and Iandolo. Last week’s goalscorer Arthur Read lined up alongside Alistair Smith as a holding pair, with Harry Anderson, Noah Chilvers and Jayden Fevrier supporting Tom Hopper in attack.
The opening ten minutes of the contest were steady, with no chances for either side. However, an early penalty for the visitors broke the deadlock at the JobServe Community Stadium. Jordan Moore-Taylor went down very easily after minimal contact with Riley Harbottle, who was booked for the challenge, and Matty Stevens converted from twelve yards.
Another good chance came for the visitors before the twenty-minute mark. A corner was tossed in from the far side, with Osadebe and Stevens both having efforts on goal, with the latter deflecting just over Goodman’s crossbar.
But the U’s soon put brought their own attacking play to the contest, with Noah Chilvers going close to an equaliser. Jayden Richardson got the better of his man to deliver the cross for Colchester’s number ten at the back post, but Chilvers’ effort was straight at Daniels in goal for the visitors.
However, as soon as the hosts started attacking, Forest Green bagged a second. It was a scrapy counter attack from Rovers, with two mis-hit efforts before Christian Doidge eventually knocked the ball into the net from close range.
The visitors now had something to cling on to, and barely created a chance before half time. Instead, they took their time whenever the ball ran out of play, including a lengthy stoppage when Jordan Moore-Taylor left the field with an injury. He was replaced by Dom Bernard just before the break, with seven minutes of added time leading into the break.
Neither side made any changes at the break as the U’s went on the offensive early to try and get back into the contest. Harry Anderson was close to halving the deficit with an effort that just whistled over the crossbar, before John Akinde was introduced on the hour mark.
Noah Chilvers made way for the powerful striker, with the getting two quick goals to get back level in a scintillating five minutes at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Alistair Smith bagged the first with a neat finish after getting around the back. Staying calm, the midfielder coolly applied the finish into the bottom corner of the net with sixty-five on the clock.
And only one minute had elapsed before Danny & Nicky Cowley’s side were at 2-2, with Jayden Fevrier on target. Another break on the left flank saw Anderson cut the ball back to an unmarked Fevrier, with the youngster able to side-foot in on the run.
The scoreline only got better for the U’s within minutes. Harry Anderson got in on the act to turn the game on its head. He managed to cut in and curl the ball into the bottom corner, beyond Daniels with perfect accuracy.
But Colchester United weren’t ahead for long, when Dominic Thompson’s deflected effort nestled in the bottom corner. A bobbling effort took a wicked deflection on its way to goal, with Goodman only able to watch as it trickled over the line.
Two further changes followed for the visitors, with Stevens and Dabo replaced by Jones and Robson with just under fifteen to play.
The U’s went close to a thrilling fourth in the eightieth minute, with Jayden Richardson collecting the ball from Fevrier on the apex of the penalty area. The full back got the better the Forest Green defender, with his curling effort just missing the top corner as Daniels scrambled to cover.
Another Colchester change came after with scorer of the third, Harry Anderson, replaced by Conor Wilkinson with ten to play.
The visitors also switched up their personnel in the last moments of the game, but the scores would remain level at full time after Thompson was replaced by Odeleye in stoppage time.
Up next for the U’s is a trip to Harrogate Town next weekend, with Danny & Nicky Cowley still remaining unbeaten in their first month at the club.
Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Iandolo, Hall, Chilvers (Akinde 61’), Hopper, Read, Anderson (Wilkinson 80’), Harbottle, Richardson, A. Smith, Fevrier.
Subs: Hornby, Jay, Wilkinson, Edwards, Mingi, Akinde, Ihionvien.
Forest Green Rovers starting XI: Daniels, Inniss, McAllister, McCann, Stevens (Jones 77’), Moore-Taylor (Bernard 43’), Thompson (Oyedele 90’), Dabo (Robson 77’), Bunker, Osadebe.
Subs: Simkin, Bernard, Robson, Oyedele, Omotoye, Jones, Brown.
Attendance: 4,519 (174)