Colchester United salvaged a point on the road at Salford City, with substitute Brad Ihionvien on target in the final fifteen minutes.
Matt Smith bagged a goal just before half time in a tight first half to give the hosts the lead at the break, with his twenty-second in the league this season.
But a rousing last fifteen minutes from the U's saw Bradley Ihionvien strike back to snatch a point against the Ammies.
The point sees the U's
Colchester United boss Danny Cowley picked a team with two changes from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sutton United in South London – Arthur Read was named on the bench while Jayden Fevrier missed out with a knock.
The two Toms, Dallison and Hopper, came in to take their places with a change of shape to the U’s too. Cowley had opted for a 3-5-2 formation; Dallison, Hall and Harbottle made up the back line with Iandolo and Richardson operating as wing-backs. Ali Smith, Cam McGeehan and Noah Chilvers completed the midfield, with Akinde and Hopper leading the attack.
As they did at Sutton three days ago, the U’s started brightly, testing goalkeeper Cairns on a couple of occasions. Cam McGeehan and Noah Chilvers brought out the best of the shot-stopper with Harbottle and Smith also going close to opening the scoring in the first ten minutes of action.
There was danger at the other end of the pitch though, with target man Matt Smith lurking in the penalty area. The striker already had twenty-one goals to his name and was looking to add to that tally – a good piece of defending from Tom Dallison prevented that in the sixteenth minute, hooking his header away from under the crossbar.
It was proving to be a tightly-contested game under the lights, with the U’s next to try their luck. Cameron McGeehan had another strike at goal after a neat move with Ellis Iandolo and John Akinde, but his curling effort was handled well by Cairns after half an hour.
An injury to Callum Hendry brought the first change of the game with less than ten minutes to play in the first half. Conor McAleny, who scored in the earlier meeting with the U’s this season, came on in his place.
Another chance came the way of the U’s before the break after Tom Hopper beat Alex Cairns to the ball on the edge of the penalty area. But an off-balance Hopper could only find the side-netting, with the hosts making them pay straight away.
Callum Morton was able to keep the ball in play on the far side, and played a simple cross along the face of goal for Matt Smith to tap in unmarked at the back post, giving Salford a half-time lead.
Ellis Iandolo picked up a yellow card just before the break for a late challenge on Dan Chesters before the teams headed to the changing rooms.
Neither side opted to make a change at the break, with the hosts coming out looking to add a quick second. They nearly had it with Morton shooting just wide of the mark sixty seconds after the restart with Malcolm skying his effort from a good position a minute later.
Salford thought they had doubled their lead on fifty-two minutes – Morton had won a free kick in a dangerous position with Smith nodding in from the set piece. But luckily for the U’s, the offside flag went up to deny the hosts, and Smith, a second.
Danny Cowley responded with his first change of the evening – Riley Harbottle was brought off with Manny Egbo taking his place in a straight swap at the back. The hosts made two changes of their own with Chesters and Malcolm replaced by Lund and Ingram.
Another change five minutes later saw the U’s switch to a back four. Arthur Read replaced Jayden Richardson with just over an hour gone, with Colchester now lining up as Goodman; Iandolo, Hall, Dallison, Egbo; Read, Smith; McGeehan, Chilvers; Hopper, Akinde.
Nicky Cowley was booked with twenty-five to play for questioning a decision by the officials, despite it appearing that the foul was committed on a U’s player.
Cam McGeehan almost grabbed an equaliser with an effort that stung the palms of Cairns, before the hosts were able to clear, with two changes made soon after by Colchester.
John Akinde and Ali Smith were brought off with Matt Jay and Brad Ihionvien coming on with less than twenty to play.
The two new players had an instant impact, linking up for the equaliser with fifteen to play. Matt Jay collected the ball in the middle, and played a neat through ball for Ihionvien to smash through the legs of Cairns to make it 1-1.
The goal gave the U’s life, with Ihionvien close to adding a second a minute later. He beat his man to the header, but was chased by Cairns who put the ball out for a corner.
Arthur Read nearly converted from the corner after a scramble in the six-yard area, but couldn’t force the ball home as the hosts made two changes with five to play. McLennan and Humbles came on for Watson and Morton.
A last-minute chance came for Matt Jay, but the second half sub couldn't generate the power with five minutes of injury time going by, despite the U's pressing for the win.
The U's point means the gap to the bottom two remains at five points, with promotion-chasing Stockport County up next for Danny Cowley's side, visiting the JobServe Community Stadium this weekend.
Salford City starting XI: Cairns, John, Mariappa, Watt, Watson (Humbles 84’), Hendry (McAleny 38’), Tilt, M. Smith, Chesters (Lund 58’), Morton (McLennan 84’), Malcolm (Ingram 58’).
Subs: Torrance, Ingram, Lund, McLennan, McAleny, Berkoe, Humbles.
Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Iandolo, Hall, Dallison, Chilvers, McGeehan, Hopper, Harbottle (Egbo 54’), Akinde (Jay 72’), Richardson (Read 62’), A. Smith (Ihionvien 72’).
Subs: Hornby, Jay, Read, Egbo, Mingi, Marshall Miranda, Ihionvien.
Attendance: 2,438 (162)