Anthony Wordsworth scored a late penalty as Colchester secured a draw at home to Crawley in League One.

The visitors hit the woodwork three times as Mike Jones twice hit the post and U's goalkeeper Mark Cousins tipped Nicky Adams' curler onto the crossbar.

Kyle McFadzean's close-range header gave Crawley the lead and they looked set to go third in the table.

But they had to be content with fourth as Wordsworth converted from the spot after McFadzean had fouled Marcus Bean.

Colchester are still without a win this season but have drawn four of their seven matches.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Colchester manager John Ward told BBC Essex:

"Anthony (Wordsworth) had a big scare at Brentford, going off on a stretcher there, and he's bounced back pretty strongly and wanted to be on the ball a lot.

"That says a lot in a team that's finding life difficult, which we are at the moment - I make no bones about it.

"When you get a penalty, you really fancy him to be calm and put it in the back of the net and that's what he did for the team.

"He can open things up, find a pass, strike a shot or whatever, so we wanted to get him on the ball that little bit more and we just changed the shape at half-time, got Anthony on the ball and we threatened their goal a bit more."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)

Colchester United

  • 01 Cousins
  • 03 Rose
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 10 Izzet (O'Toole - 76' )
  • 15 Bean
  • 22 Wordsworth
  • 09 Morrison
  • 16 Henderson (Sears - 68' )
  • 21 Massey

Substitutes

  • 35 Pentney
  • 06 Heath
  • 25 White
  • 07 Duguid
  • 08 O'Toole
  • 14 Bond
  • 11 Sears

Crawley Town

  • 01 Jones
  • 03 Sadler
  • 04 Connolly
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 13 Hunt
  • 06 Akpan
  • 16 Adams
  • 18 Cooper (Simpson - 7' )
  • 21 Jones
  • 09 Alexander
  • 14 Ajose (Clarke - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Kuipers
  • 12 Walsh
  • 20 Wassmer
  • 07 Clarke
  • 11 Simpson
  • 15 Bulman
  • 10 Forte
Ref: Woolmer
Att: 2,484

Match Stats

Shots

7 12

On target

5 4

Corners

4 8

Fouls

7 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:04 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

86:01

John-Joe O'Toole produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target. Mike Jones has an effort at goal from outside the box hitting the post. Gary Alexander takes a shot. Mark Cousins makes a save.

84:50

Mat Sadler challenges Gavin Massey unfairly and gives away a Penalty.

89:06

Inswinging corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Mat Sadler.

86:01

John-Joe O'Toole produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target. Mike Jones takes a shot from outside the box and strikes the post. Gary Alexander takes a shot. Mark Cousins makes a save.

86:01 Goal scored

Goal - Anthony Wordsworth - Colchester 1 - 1 Crawley Power penalty scored by Anthony Wordsworth. Colchester 1-1 Crawley Town.

84:50

Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Gavin Massey by Kyle McFadzean.

84:07

Freddie Sears takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

77:58 Substitution

Substitution Billy Clarke on for Nick Ajose.

77:58

John-Joe O'Toole concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Simpson. Shot comes in from Mike Jones from the free kick.

76:58

Nick Ajose takes a shot. Save made by Mark Cousins.

75:47 Substitution

Substitution (Colchester) makes a substitution, with John-Joe O'Toole coming on for Kem Izzet.

72:37

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams played to the near post, Kyle McFadzean has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar. Corner taken by Mat Sadler, save by Mark Cousins.

70:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Wordsworth by Mat Sadler. Free kick taken by Michael Rose.

70:19 Goal scored

Goal - Kyle McFadzean - Colchester 0 - 1 Crawley Kyle McFadzean finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Colchester 0-1 Crawley Town.

69:18

Corner taken left-footed by Mat Sadler, save by Mark Cousins.

68:00

Corner taken by Nicky Adams, Kyle McFadzean produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

67:19 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears comes on in place of Ian Henderson.

64:48

Shot from outside the penalty area by Mike Jones hits the post.

61:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Henderson by Mark Connolly. Shot comes in from Brian Wilson from the free kick, Paul Jones makes a save. Michael Rose takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Hope Akpan makes a clearance.

60:34

Centre by Brian Wilson, Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

58:36

The ball is crossed by Nick Ajose, Ian Henderson gets a block in. Corner from the left by-line taken by Nicky Adams, Mark Cousins makes a save.

56:43

The ball is crossed by Gavin Massey, Mat Sadler gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Michael Rose from the right by-line to the near post, Mat Sadler manages to make a clearance.

56:43

A cross is delivered by Gavin Massey, blocked by Mat Sadler. Michael Rose takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Mat Sadler makes a clearance.

55:41

Gavin Massey challenges Mat Sadler unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mat Sadler takes the direct free kick.

53:56

The ball is delivered by Anthony Wordsworth, Ian Henderson takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.

53:14

The referee gives a free kick against Gary Alexander for handball. Direct free kick taken by Magnus Okuonghae.

50:45

Mike Jones has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

48:07

Unfair challenge on Kem Izzet by Gary Alexander results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Rose.

46:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Henderson by David Hunt. Michael Rose takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:09 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:50

Handball decision goes against Anthony Wordsworth. Free kick taken by Mark Connolly.

40:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Hunt on Gavin Massey. Direct free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

38:30

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kem Izzet on Kyle McFadzean. Free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

36:48

Gary Alexander produces a cross, Tom Eastman gets a block in. Mat Sadler takes a corner.

33:40

Shot from a long way out by Mat Sadler goes wide of the left-hand upright.

32:18

Gavin Massey crosses the ball, Paul Jones makes a save.

29:41

The ball is swung over by Nicky Adams, blocked by Anthony Wordsworth. Corner taken by Mat Sadler from the right by-line, Mark Cousins makes a save.

29:18

Foul by Gavin Massey on Josh Simpson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Nicky Adams.

25:54

Unfair challenge on Gary Alexander by Anthony Wordsworth results in a free kick. David Hunt takes the direct free kick.

21:45

Gary Alexander challenges Magnus Okuonghae unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tom Eastman takes the free kick.

20:05

The referee blows for offside against Nick Ajose. Mark Cousins takes the indirect free kick.

18:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kem Izzet by Gary Alexander. Free kick taken by Anthony Wordsworth.

16:59

Josh Simpson takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

15:45

Mike Jones produces a cross, Tom Eastman manages to make a clearance. Corner from left by-line taken by Nicky Adams.

14:25

Mike Jones delivers the ball, Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save by Mark Cousins.

9:56

Gary Alexander concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Henderson. Brian Wilson takes the direct free kick.

6:38 Substitution

Substitution Josh Simpson is brought on as a substitute for Shaun Cooper.

4:36

Brian Wilson sends in a cross, clearance by Mark Connolly. Corner from the left by-line taken by Michael Rose, Header from close range by Marcus Bean misses to the right of the goal.

3:43

Nick Ajose is caught offside. Mark Cousins takes the free kick.

3:15

Clinton Morrison takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

0:59

Foul by Clinton Morrison on Kyle McFadzean, free kick awarded. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

0:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kem Izzet on Shaun Cooper. Direct free kick taken by Mike Jones.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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