Tom Lapslie believes his last-gasp equaliser for Colchester United in their 2-2 draw at Barnsley reflects the desire within the squad – despite their relegation to League Two.

The U’s hit back to claim a draw in their final away game of the season after Lapslie headed home Joe Edwards’ cross in the eighth minute of stoppage-time at Oakwell.

Colchester were forced to play the final 13 minutes of the match with ten men after goalkeeper Elliott Parish was stretchered off with a back injury and forward Macauley Bonne had to go in goal.

Lapslie said: “No-one could probably see our equaliser coming but we carried on going.

“It just shows the desire that we have in the team, albeit in a disappointing season.

“We stuck together well as a team and kept going until the last minute.

“With El (Elliott Parish) going off and Macca (Macauley Bonne) in goal it was a bit makeshift but we dug together and that’s all you can do really.

“I felt we deserved a point and it was probably a fair result on the day.

“They were 2-1 up when we went down to ten men, so they’re going to be kicking themselves that they’ve thrown it away after a last-minute goal, which we’ve done before ourselves.

“It does hit you hard so they’re going to be a bit down but I think a draw was a fair reflection of the performances of both teams.”

Lapslie’s late equaliser was his second goal of the season and his third as a professional, with all three of them being headers.

“I wasn’t expecting it, to be fair – I saw the ball go up to Shors (Nicky Shorey) so I thought I’d just get into the box as I knew there couldn’t be long left,” said Lapslie, who has made 11 first-team appearances for Colchester so far this season.

“The ball went over my head but it came to Joe (Edwards) so I thought I’d just stay in there and I stuck it in the back of the net.

“We always felt that if we kept going, there might be a chance and the ball might fall to someone.

“We’d hoped it would be Moncs (George Moncur) but it dropped to me and I put it in!”