Match ends, Colchester United 4, Walsall 4.
ColchesterColchester United4WalsallWalsall4
James O'Connor scored in added time to secure Walsall a point in a dramatic eight-goal thriller at Colchester.
Romaine Sawyers and Milan Lalkovic gave second-placed Walsall a two-goal lead before George Moncur's curler and Marvin Sordell's finish made it 2-2.
On-loan George Evans restored Walsall's lead before Owen Garvan smashed in a 25-yard volley following a corner.
Darren Ambrose put the U's 4-3 up from Callum Harriott's cross but O'Connor's dramatic late finish earned a point.
It stretched the Saddlers' unbeaten away record in League One this season to eight matches.
Walsall remain two points behind leaders Gillingham, who drew at home to Southend.
Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM:
"I'm bitterly disappointed, to be honest. We looked to be coasting at 2-0. We played some fantastic stuff during the first half - but they were always an attacking threat as well.
"They've had a few chances during the first half as well. I spoke to the players at half-time, what not to do - and we did the opposite.
"The lad scored a good goal for their first one, although I think it deflected off Adam Chambers. The second one was onside marginally. The third goal, a speculative strike from the edge of the box, was people not doing their jobs. in terms of our players.
"And the fourth one we should have had a penalty at the other end, and they break and score, so I feel that decision has cost us two points."
Line-ups
Colchester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Jones
- 14Olufemi
- 15KentBooked at 70mins
- 18Eastman
- 6ElokobiBooked at 43mins
- 8GilbeyBooked at 81mins
- 2Garvan
- 28Ambrose
- 10MoncurSubstituted forEdwardsat 88'minutes
- 31HarriottSubstituted forSembie-Ferrisat 83'minutes
- 45Sordell
Substitutes
- 4Edwards
- 17Szmodics
- 19Bonne
- 20Lapslie
- 21Sembie-Ferris
- 33Parish
- 40James
Walsall
Formation 4-3-2-1
- 13MacGillivray
- 2Demetriou
- 6Downing
- 27EvansSubstituted forFlanaganat 87'minutes
- 3Taylor
- 12FordeSubstituted forCookat 62'minutes
- 7Chambers
- 4O'Connor
- 15LalkovicSubstituted forMorrisat 62'minutes
- 9Bradshaw
- 10Sawyers
Substitutes
- 11Baxendale
- 16Preston
- 17Flanagan
- 18Morris
- 21Cook
- 22Kinsella
- 30Jezeph
- Referee:
- Seb Stockbridge
- Attendance:
- 3,630
Match Stats
Home TeamColchesterAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away8
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 4, Walsall 4.
Post update
Kieron Morris (Walsall) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Walsall) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 4, Walsall 4. James O'Connor (Walsall) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Cook.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jamie Jones.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Tom Eastman.
Post update
Jason Demetriou (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dion Sembie-Ferris (Colchester United).
Post update
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Eastman (Colchester United).
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Joe Edwards replaces George Moncur.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Reece Flanagan replaces George Evans.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Frankie Kent.
Post update
Foul by Alex Gilbey (Colchester United).
Post update
Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Dion Sembie-Ferris replaces Callum Harriott because of an injury.
Booking
Alex Gilbey (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 4, Walsall 3. Darren Ambrose (Colchester United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Harriott.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jason Demetriou (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
