Match ends, Colchester United 1, Port Vale 1.
ColchesterColchester United1Port ValePort Vale1
A Marcus Harness header earned Port Vale a deserved draw at Colchester to continue their improved form under manager Neil Aspin.
Vale almost scored in the opening minute when home goalkeeper Sam Walker denied Dave Worrall, but Sammie Szmodics hooked a first-time effort just wide and then curled a shot narrowly wide soon after at the other end.
Colchester took the lead just after the half-hour mark through leading scorer Szmodics, who latched onto Tom Lapslie's fine pass and broke the offside trap before poking a shot past keeper Ryan Boot.
But Vale started the second half well and Walker pushed away Antony Kay's 30-yard strike, and Lapslie nodded Nathan Smith's header off the line.
Kay's excellent header clattered the crossbar before the visitors finally levelled with 15 minutes remaining through Harness, who nodded in substitute Tyler Denton's cross from close range.
Szmodics nearly restored Colchester's lead immediately afterwards when his shot clipped the crossbar but it finished all square.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Colchester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Walker
- 2Jackson
- 18Eastman
- 6Kent
- 22Vincent-Young
- 4Lapslie
- 14ComleyBooked at 86mins
- 7WrightSubstituted forMurrayat 76'minutes
- 10SzmodicsSubstituted forHanlanat 89'minutes
- 17ReidSubstituted forJamesat 67'minutes
- 19Mandron
Substitutes
- 16Murray
- 21Hanlan
- 24Slater
- 27Odelusi
- 28Guthrie
- 29Gilmartin
- 35James
Port Vale
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 23Boot
- 5DavisBooked at 39mins
- 24Smith
- 33Gunning
- 8Pugh
- 6Kay
- 10Worrall
- 31WhitfieldSubstituted forDentonat 75'minutes
- 7Myers-Harness
- 11MontañoSubstituted forBarnettat 45'minutes
- 9Pope
Substitutes
- 1Lainton
- 3Denton
- 14Barnett
- 15Forrester
- 19Turner
- 20Kelly
- 32Tonge
- Referee:
- Nick Kinseley
- Attendance:
- 3,485
Match Stats
Home TeamColchesterAway TeamPort Vale
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 1, Port Vale 1.
Post update
Cameron James (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Tom Pope (Port Vale).
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Brandon Hanlan replaces Sammie Szmodics.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Tom Eastman.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tyrone Barnett (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Booking
Brandon Comley (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Antony Kay (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Nathan Smith.
Post update
Sammie Szmodics (Colchester United) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Sean Murray replaces Drey Wright.
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 1, Port Vale 1. Marcus Myers-Harness (Port Vale) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tyler Denton.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Tyler Denton replaces Ben Whitfield.
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Worrall (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kane Vincent-Young (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Cameron James replaces Kyel Reid.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marcus Myers-Harness (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Pope (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Gavin Gunning (Port Vale) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box.
