Ben Perry's late equaliser earned Colchester a hard-fought point away at Chesterfield in League Two on Tuesday. The 1-1 draw keeps Danny Cowley's side in 20th place with 11 points from their opening 10 games. They are now two places and two points above the relegation zone in the league table.
Chesterfield, who dominated possession, took the lead just before the half-hour mark. Ryan Stirk provided the assist for Dilan Markanday to finish, putting the hosts in front. Colchester defended doggedly for long periods, with goalkeeper Lo-Tutala making a key save to keep the deficit at one. The introduction of substitute Oscar Thorn in the 75th minute proved decisive, as he set up Perry to fire home the leveller with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
How the match unfolded
The home side controlled the ball from the outset, finishing the match with 62 percent possession and 19 attempts on goal. Colchester's disciplined shape limited clear chances, however, with only three of those shots testing Lo-Tutala. The visitors' task was made harder when manager Danny Cowley was shown a yellow card for dissent before half-time. His team grew into the game after the break, and their persistence was rewarded through Perry's well-taken finish, one of only six shots they managed all night. Chesterfield's Ryan Stirk, who assisted the opener, was later booked for a foul.
What the result means
This point extends Colchester's recent run to just one defeat in their last five League Two outings, though they have drawn four of those. Their form reads DDLDD. The result leaves them ahead of a key fixture against 22nd-placed Northampton Town on Friday night at Sixfields Stadium. Both sides finished the match with players in the book. Lewis Gordon, Alfie Pond and Ryan Stirk were cautioned for Chesterfield, while Ihionvien and Hunt saw yellow for Colchester. A positive result in their next match could provide vital breathing space in a tightly packed lower half of the table.
