Colchester United were held to a point in Danny Cowley's first home game as Head Coch at the JobServe Community Stadium, with a 1-1 draw against Bradford City.
The U's struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half, with the visitors taking a deserved lead into the break after Andy Cook's accurate strike.
But Colchester fought back well and equalised through Tom Hopper's brilliant effort from a tight angle.
The U's hoped to take more from the game, but couldn't make the second breakthrough as Danny and Nicky Cowley remain unbeaten at Colchester.
Danny Cowley named two changes to the starting eleven for his first game at the JobServe Community Stadium as U’s Head Coach.
Cameron McGeehan returned from suspension, while Jayden Richardson was handed a start after arriving on loan from Aberdeen on Friday afternoon – they took the places of an injured Ellis Iandolo and Marley Marshall Miranda, who dropped to the bench.
And like the previous game, Danny opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation; Hall and Mitchell were flanked by Dallison and Richrdson with the pair of Read and McGeehan sitting just ahead. Noah Chilvers, Matt Jay and Jayden Fevrier made up the three supporting players for Tom Hopper up front.
The U’s looked bright from the off after a raucous welcome from the home support, with a dangerous attack within the first thirty seconds of action; but Matt Jay’s square ball for Tom Hopper was deflected and nudged behind out of danger.
But the next twenty minutes of action saw the visitors with much of the possession and efforts on goal, however, the yielded nothing. Owen Goodman was called upon a couple of times with Halliday and Cook taking aim, but nothing the U’s ‘keeper couldn’t handle.
On the half hour mark the U’s created their best chance of the game though, with Matt Jay taking the reins in midfield. Collecting the ball in a tight space from Arthur Read, Jay spotted the run of Fevrier on the left flank – with the wide player able to deliver a dangerous cross for Hopper to attack – but the visitors just about managed to clear the danger.
It was the visitors who made the first breakthrough though, with Andy Cook on target. The U’s failed to deal with a cross to the back post, with Cook able to keep control and find the target with an effort that snuck in off the woodwork with ten to go in the first half.
And it remained 1-0 to the visitors until the break, with half time coming at a good point for the players to get further instructions from the Head Coach.
There were no changes at half time, but Cowley soon made the first alteration with Matt Jay replaced by Conor Wilkinson ten minutes into the second half.
And only five minutes later, the U’s were back on level terms with Tom Hopper deservedly getting his first goal of the campaign. Controlling a lofted ball superbly, Hopper showed a great deal of composure to pick out the bottom corner, sending the U’s supporters wild.
The goal brought plenty of noise from the fans in the South Stand with Graham Alexander on the away bench making changes of his own soon after. Harry Chapman and Bobby Pointon made way for Vadaine Oliver and Clarke Oduor in an attacking change for the Bantams.
Owura Edwards was given fifteen minutes to help the team find a winner at the end of the game, coming on for Jayden Fevrier in an attacking role.
The U’s pressed on and looked the most likely to get the winner, with John Akinde sent on for Tom Hopper in the last ten minutes. Hopper left the field to a hearty round of applause after getting his goal, with John almost getting in on the action straight away.
The powerful striker got his head to Owura Edwards’ cross but Walker was able to collect and hold.
Nicky Cowley was the first man to be carded in the match, after registering his displeasure at what looked a soft foul on Stubbs by Arthur Read.
Arthur Read almost nicked three points with a late strike, but Sam Walker was equal to it, getting a fingertip to a dipping strike.
But the U's took a deserved point, in what was probably a fair result for both sides.
Up next, Colchester United travel to Salford City on Friday evening, with Danny & Nicky Cowley looking to get their first win for the club.
Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Hall, Dallison, Jay (Wilkinson 55’), Chilvers, McGeehan, Hopper (Akinde 83’), Mitchell, Read, Richardson, Fevrier (Edwards 76’).
Subs: Hornby, Greenidge, Wilkinson, Edwards, Akinde, Marshall Miranda, Ihoinvien.
Bradford City starting XI: Walker, Halliday, Ridehalgh, Taylor, Smallwood, Cook, Gilliead, Stubbs, Chapman (Oduor 68’), Pointon (Oliver 68’), Tomkinson.
Subs: Doyle, Platt, Oduor, Smith, Kelly, Oliver, McDonald.
Attendance: 4,625 (459)