Colchester United picked up a point against league leaders Mansfield Town at Field Mill this afternoon in a 1-1 draw.
The U's took an early lead in the contest with Harry Anderson's strike sneaking in at the far post, and held their advantage until the break.
But a Lewis Brunt strike in the second half levelled the contest - it could have gone either way with Tovide's strike hitting the woodwork, while Tom Dallison put in an excellent block in the last minutes, but both sides had to settle for a point.
Danny Cowley named a team with two changes to the eleven that started against Walsall seven days ago, with Noah Chilvers and John Akinde sat on the bench; Alistair Smith and Tom Hopper took their places on the pitch.
The formation was unchanged from last weekend’s action as Mingi, Dallison and Hall lined up in the back three, flanked by Harry Anderson and Jayden Fevrier. Ali Smith, Arthur Read and Cam McGeehan made up the midfield trio with Brad Ihionvien and Tom Hopper in attack for the U’s.
Colchester United made a bright start in the game, and attacking down both flanks to try and give the hosts problems. Harry Anderson was getting the better of Baily Cargill, and delivered a good cross in the sixth minute that had to be dealt with by the home defence.
But it was Anderson himself that delivered the blow to open the scoring against Mansfield. The winger on loan from Stevenage got the better of Cargill and accurately picked out the bottom corner, beating Pym from a tight angle after twelve minutes.
The first card of the afternoon was shown to Brad Ihionvien for preventing the hosts from restarting play a couple of minutes after his side had taken the lead.
Mansfield pressed forward but were only able to create one meaningful chance of the half. Will Swan found himself one on one, but was denied by the legs of Owen Goodman with just a minute to play in the first period.
Connor Hall was booked just before half time for taking his time over a free kick, but it was his side that would hold the advantage at the break, leading 1-0 courtesy of Harry Anderson’s strike.
There were no changes at half time from either side, with the first card of the half coming within three minutes. Davis Keillor-Dunn cynically brought down Arthur Read while the U’s were trying to break, and was cautioned.
Colchester United made the first change of the afternoon, and it was a welcome return for Samson Tovide in the fifty-seventh minute. He replaced Brad Ihionvien in attack, and nearly had a goal within sixty seconds.
Ali Smith won the ball back high up the pitch, with Harry Anderson taking over possession and delivering a cross that was just in front of Tovide and into the arms of Pym.
Less than ten minutes later the hosts were back on level terms. Owen Goodman denied Baily Cargill’s header with a brilliant save under the crossbar, but could do nothing from the resulting cross, with Lewis Brunt knocking in after a mix-up in the penalty area.
The hosts made a double change with twenty minutes to play with Cargill and Boateng brought off and replaced by McLaughlin and Clarke.
Owen Goodman was called into action again, this time to deny Swan’s header with a fingertip save over the crossbar, before the U’s next change of the afternoon. Ellis Iandolo came on for Tom Hopper with just over ten minutes to play.
The U’s went close to finding what might have been a later winner through Samson Tovide. Ali Smith picked out the number 9 on the run, with his effort from distance pushed on to the post by Pym.
Noah Chilvers came on the last minutes of the game as Pym denied both Dallison and Iandolo from U’s corners, with both sides having to settle for a point.
The point sees the U’s remain in twenty-second, but ahead of Forest Green Rovers on points now with a superior goal difference to the teams in the bottom two.
Up next, the U’s host Newport County on Good Friday at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Mansfield Town starting XI: Pym, Cargill (McLaughlin 71’), Akins, Bowery, Flint, Quinn, Brunt, Reed, Swan, Keillor-Dunn, Boateng (Clarke 71’).
Subs: Flinders, McLaughlin, Hewitt, Clarke, Gale, Lewis, Nichols.
Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Hall, Dallison, McGeehan, Hopper (Iandolo 79’), Read, Anderson, Mingi, Smith, Fevrier (Chilvers 90’), Ihionvien (Tovide 57’).
Subs: Hornby, Iandolo, Jay, Tovide, Chilvers, Harbottle, Akinde.
Attendance: 7,517
