Colchester United picked up a well-earned point at promotion-chasing Cambridge United last night, a result which keeps their play-off hopes alive.
After overcoming the setback of conceding early on, Jack Payne provided the surprise equaliser on the half-hour mark.
And while Cambridge had the better of the opening 45 minutes, they were largely frustrated by the visitors in the second period, who could have nicked an unlikely winner.
Colchester Boss Heaps Praise
The Cledara Abbey Stadium is perhaps the toughest place to go in League Two this season. The U’s are unbeaten on their own soil since early September, where a defeat to Oldham Athletic remains their only home loss this campaign. With five straight wins heading into the game yesterday evening, they have won more games (11) and picked up more points (37) than any other fourth-tier side at home this term.
While Neil Harris’ side weren’t at their best last night, his opposing number, Danny Cowley, was particularly impressed with the home side.
“They’re the best team that we’ve played, for sure and they will be automatically promoted, I have no doubt and we’ve taken them all the way.
“It was a really good game and we played against a really good team, for sure. It’s no surprise to me that they’ve been on the run that they’ve been.
“We were so disappointed with ourselves on Saturday and we just didn’t find our levels, which was super frustrating but we knew we would find our intensity today.”
Response From Weekend
Colchester’s form has dipped a little since the beginning of 2026, after three consecutive victories. Two losses in a row at the end of January were particularly damaging, coming against sides also chasing a play-off place, Grimsby and Crewe Alexandra. And while they responded with three points against Shrewsbury Town, another narrow reverse at Barrow last weekend made it three losses in four.
And going a goal down just three minutes into their contest at Cambridge was a frustrating moment for the U’s boss.
“It was a real test for us because we were so disappointed with ourselves on Saturday, and we came into this game wanting a response and concede after maybe 90 seconds, so early.
“It’s a real test of your minerals and your substance and I was really proud of the way the boys took the ball.”
Closing The Gap To The Play-Offs
While that point at Cambridge last night doesn’t massively change the landscape of the League Two standings, results around the U’s were positive. Two teams just outside the top seven places, Barnet and Crewe Alexandra, were beaten by a solitary goal, while seventh-placed Salford City were shocked by Newport County.
Walsall and Grimsby Town, who are a couple of places and points ahead of the Essex outfit, face off tonight. The gap to the play-offs currently stands at six points, with Colchester and Accrington Stanley the two outsiders in this battle. Consecutive Saturday home matches against Barnet and Salford will be pivotal in determining where Cowley’s side finishes this season.
