Match ends, Salford City 1, Colchester United 1.
Matt Smith's 22nd goal of the season was not enough for Salford as Colchester rescued a late point in a draw.
The travelling U's, who have enjoyed an upturn in form since Danny Cowley's appointment in early January, started the brighter.
Cameron McGeehan was denied by Alex Cairns, Riley Harbottle headed over from close range and Tom Hopper failed to convert an open goal from an acute angle.
Their wastefulness in the final third was punished by the Ammies, with Smith benefitting from good work by Callum Morton to tap in before the interval.
The imperious striker, who becomes League Two's joint-top scorer alongside Notts County's Macauley Langstaff, thought he doubled his account after the restart.
However, Smith was adjudged to have strayed into an offside position when he nodded home an Elliot Watt free-kick.
Spurred on by the disallowed goal, Colchester fought in pursuit of a leveller and they were rewarded when substitute Bradley Ihionvien struck with 15 minutes remaining.
Cowley's outfit came close to completing a shock turnaround late on, but Cairns thwarted Ihionvien and Declan John blocked on the line.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Salford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Cairns
- 20ChestersSubstituted forLundat 58'minutes
- 5MariappaBooked at 83mins
- 16Tilt
- 3John
- 7WatsonSubstituted forHumblesat 84'minutesBooked at 88mins
- 6Watt
- 56MalcolmSubstituted forIngramat 58'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 9HendrySubstituted forMcAlenyat 38'minutes
- 39MortonBooked at 74minsSubstituted forMcLennanat 84'minutes
- 17Smith
Substitutes
- 2Ingram
- 8Lund
- 11McLennan
- 18McAleny
- 23Berkoe
- 31Torrance
- 47Humbles
Colchester
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Goodman
- 26RichardsonSubstituted forReadat 62'minutes
- 22HarbottleSubstituted forEgboat 54'minutes
- 6Dallison-Lisbon
- 5HallBooked at 90mins
- 3IandoloBooked at 45mins
- 27SmithSubstituted forIhionvienat 73'minutes
- 13McGeehan
- 10Chilvers
- 14Hopper
- 24AkindeSubstituted forJayat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Jay
- 16Read
- 18Egbo
- 20Mingi
- 29Hornby
- 33Marshall-Miranda
- 48Ihionvien
- Referee:
- Kirsty Dowle
- Attendance:
- 2,438
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Salford City 1, Colchester United 1.
Booking
Connor Hall (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Ethan Ingram (Salford City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Noah Chilvers (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ethan Ingram (Salford City).
Post update
Attempt saved. Elliot Watt (Salford City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ethan Ingram with a headed pass.
Post update
Offside, Salford City. Matt Smith is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Ihionvien (Colchester United).
Post update
Adrian Mariappa (Salford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Matt Jay (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bradley Ihionvien.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matthew Lund (Salford City) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ethan Ingram.
Booking
Liam Humbles (Salford City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Cameron McGeehan (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Liam Humbles (Salford City).
Post update
Hand ball by Matt Jay (Colchester United).
Post update
Corner, Salford City. Conceded by Connor Hall.
Substitution
Substitution, Salford City. Connor McLennan replaces Callum Morton.
Substitution
Substitution, Salford City. Liam Humbles replaces Ryan Watson.
Post update
Offside, Colchester United. Cameron McGeehan is caught offside.
Comments
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Decent performance tonight even though the other results didn't drop kindly .