TOWN’S lack of killer instinct came back to haunt them for the second time in four days.
After a lacklustre first half, Town put themselves in the box seat with an imperious spell of play, but when they needed to put the game to bed instead they sat back and visitors Colchester took up the invitation – Dean Hammond securing the draw with a deft free kick.
Again it was a late show as the Essex side snatched the equaliser in injury time and Town, having conceded points late in their meetings with Stockport on Saturday and against Northampton, have a problem on their hands that needs solving soon.
However, Town had to be credited for their resolve in coming back into the contest after trailing following a far from encouraging first half.
The home side started brightly enough with Jim Goodwin flashing a shot over the bar and Danny Cadamarteri making United keeper Mark Cousins rush a clearance, but all too soon the visitors managed to nullify the threat.
The unfortunate Goodwin then gifted Colchester the lead as he raised his hands in protection as a cross went into the Town penalty area and his handball offence allowed Dean Hammond to step up and fire United in front from the penalty spot after 19 minutes.
The visitors’ confidence grew and Hammond again tested the Town defence’s resolve before the home side managed to make Cousins earn his keep with a scrambling save.
His opposite number Alex Smithies had to be equally sharp on 39 minutes and took a knock as he collided with United striker Clive Platt, but it was Town who finished the half on top with Anthony Pilkington looping a shot on to the roof of the net.
The second period saw Town make a drastic improvement and they were back on terms within six minutes when Gary Roberts initial break paved the way for Everton loan striker Lukas Jutkiewicz to spin free and fire in a shot. Cousins got down well to paw the ball away but he managed only to divert it into the path of Pilkington who scored from close range.
Manager Lee Clark then switched Jim Goodwin for Ian Craney and the midfield reshuffle had an immediate effect.
Town upped the tempo and forced a free kick in shooting range but Robbie Williams effort found only the side-netting.
Andy Booth then took the place of Jutkiewicz and Town began to apply even more pressure and on 66 minutes they gained a deserved lead.
A neatly crafted attack saw Craney set up and he blasted his shot against the bar, but as Town mopped up the bits and pieces Roberts got free on the left and finished tidily from an acute angle.
Town seemed set to take all three points, but rather than build on their advantage they seemed all too prepared to sit back and defend their one goal lead.
Again they paid the price. The fourth official showed six minutes of added time, but it took only seconds of that additional time for Colchester to make Town suffer.
Andy Holdsworth, who was otherwise pretty much flawless in his display conceded a free kick and Hammond stepped up to curl home a cute free kick.
