Carlisle picked up another point towards their play-off goal after an entertaining draw with Colchester.

Steven Gillespie headed over early on and Gavin Massey blasted just wide for the hosts, while Cumbrian Francois Zoko forced a low save from Ben Williams.

Martin Rowlands put the U's in front when he burst onto Gillespie's pass to score from close range.

James Berrett earned his side a point with a smart finish after he broke clear of the home defence.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Colchester manager John Ward told BBC Essex:

"We've just played four teams out of the top six, we've not lost to any of them and we've come in disappointed.

"I've got a frustrated dressing room after having no defeats in the last nine.

"We've just seen another really good game of football, with two very good teams.

"That's been the plus side of the last four matches, we're amongst the good sides in the division at this moment in time."

Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott told BBC Radio Cumbria:

"I'm just pleased with the players at the minute.- The way their approaching the game, the performance, the way they are playing the games.

"The cohesion and the unity throughout the club is key to what's been keeping us going.

"We travel together, we eat together and we walked together this morning."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Colchester United

  • 01 Williams
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 25 White
  • 10 Izzet
  • 17 Rowlands (Bond - 56' )
  • 22 Wordsworth
  • 09 Gillespie (Odejayi - 66' )
  • 16 Henderson
  • 21 Massey (Sears - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 06 Heath
  • 14 Bond
  • 27 Duguid
  • 11 Sears
  • 15 Odejayi

Carlisle United

  • 01 Collin
  • 02 Simek
  • 05 Livesey
  • 06 Murphy
  • 04 McGovern
  • 12 Taiwo (Cook - 87' )
  • 17 Noble
  • 21 Berrett
  • 24 Chantler
  • 13 Zoko (Welsh - 82' )
  • 14 Miller

Substitutes

  • 20 Gillespie
  • 25 Michalik
  • 07 Welsh
  • 16 Cook
  • 10 Madden
Ref: Sutton
Att: 3,672

Match Stats

Shots

12 9

On target

8 3

Corners

3 6

Fouls

9 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:21 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +1:57

Andy Bond takes a shot. Save made by Adam Collin.

90:00 +1:10

Effort from the edge of the area by Anthony Wordsworth goes wide of the right-hand post.

89:28

Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line, Unfair challenge on Adam Collin by Magnus Okuonghae results in a free kick. Adam Collin restarts play with the free kick.

88:30

Freddie Sears produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

86:03 Substitution

Substitution Tom Taiwo goes off and Jordan Cook comes on.

84:35

Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.

84:35 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears comes on in place of Gavin Massey.

84:35

Ian Henderson concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Livesey.

83:54

Corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line, Danny Livesey manages to make a clearance.

83:39

Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Blocked by Peter Murphy.

81:15 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Welsh on for Francois Zoko.

79:47

The official flags Frank Simek offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.

78:16

Tom Taiwo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Anthony Wordsworth. Anthony Wordsworth takes the free kick.

77:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gavin Massey on Chris Chantler. Free kick taken by Adam Collin.

74:21

Anthony Wordsworth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francois Zoko. Adam Collin takes the free kick.

72:23

Headed effort from deep inside the area by James Berrett misses to the left of the goal.

70:59

Corner taken right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern from the left by-line, clearance by Anthony Wordsworth.

70:18

Corner taken right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern from the right by-line, clearance by Anthony Wordsworth.

67:29

Assist by Lee Miller.

67:29 Goal scored

Goal - James Berrett - Colchester 1 - 1 Carlisle James Berrett gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 1-1 Carlisle.

65:06 Substitution

Substitution Kayode Odejayi replaces Steven Gillespie.

63:37

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern from the right by-line, John White makes a clearance.

59:47

Effort from outside the penalty box by James Berrett goes wide right of the goal.

57:59

Foul by John White on Jon-Paul McGovern, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern, Ben Williams makes a save.

55:05 Substitution

Substitution Andy Bond joins the action as a substitute, replacing Martin Rowlands.

53:39

Liam Noble produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

52:15

Lee Miller produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

50:13

Steven Gillespie provided the assist for the goal.

50:13 Goal scored

Goal - Martin Rowlands - Colchester 1 - 0 Carlisle Martin Rowlands fires in a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 1-0 Carlisle.

49:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Chantler on Gavin Massey. Martin Rowlands restarts play with the free kick.

48:24

Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Adam Collin makes a save.

46:52

Liam Noble takes a shot. Blocked by Tom Eastman. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jon-Paul McGovern from the right by-line, Kemal Izzet manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

42:56

Francois Zoko takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.

40:41

Gavin Massey has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

40:20

John White takes a shot. Jon-Paul McGovern gets a block in.

38:15

Shot from long distance by Liam Noble misses to the right of the target.

32:50

Ian Henderson is ruled offside. Adam Collin takes the free kick.

30:45

Ian Henderson takes a shot. Save made by Adam Collin.

30:00

Gavin Massey takes a shot. Blocked by Chris Chantler.

28:41

Liam Noble challenges Kemal Izzet unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Martin Rowlands.

28:01

Chris Chantler fouled by Brian Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Collin takes the free kick.

24:24

Foul by Magnus Okuonghae on Lee Miller, free kick awarded. Strike on goal comes in from Lee Miller from the free kick.

22:36

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Martin Rowlands, Tom Eastman takes a shot. Adam Collin makes a save.

20:42

Close range header by Steven Gillespie goes over the bar.

16:46

Danny Livesey fouled by Steven Gillespie, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Collin takes the direct free kick.

13:13

James Berrett fouled by Martin Rowlands, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Peter Murphy.

9:33

Corner taken by Jon-Paul McGovern played to the near post, clearance by Martin Rowlands.

6:25

Jon-Paul McGovern takes a short corner.

5:46

Steven Gillespie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Peter Murphy.

2:03

Lee Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John White. Direct free kick taken by Tom Eastman.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association