Chris Porter's brace was not enough to secure Colchester United victory over Morecambe after they were held to an eventful 2-2 draw at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The U's are now without a win in seven league matches, after they were forced to settle for a point in the League Two clash.

U’s boss John McGreal made one change to his starting line-up as Denny Johnstone was handed only his fourth league start for the U’s, as McGreal opted to go for two forwards in attack.

Kurtis Guthrie was the man to make way, in a 4-1-3-2 formation.

New signing Lloyd Doyley was on the bench along with Reading loanee Tarique Fosu, who had recovered from a hamstring strain that kept him out of Colchester’s 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers seven days earlier.

Colchester registered their first effort on goal after barely a minute when Sammie Szmodics' fierce shot from the edge of the area saved well by goalkeeper Barry Roche.

And the U’s were ahead in the fourth minute.

After Johnstone and Szmodics had combined well in the final third, Kane Vincent-Young found space on the right to cross into the six-yard box where Chris Porter finished clinically first time past Roche.

Johnstone’s header from close range well saved low down by Roche soon after but at the other end, James Jennings’ first time volley from the edge of the area flew just over from Michael Rose’s corner.

And Morecambe were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute when Alex Wynter was adjudged to have pushed Peter Murphy in the area following Kevin Ellison’s cross.

But U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker saved Tom Barkhuizen’s spot-kick with his legs, to preserve the hosts’ lead.

Wynter’s header from Craig Slater’s corner flew narrowly over before Barkhuizen capitalised to race through and finish calmly past Walker to atone for his earlier penalty miss and equalise for Morecambe in the 27th minute.

However, Colchester regained their lead seven minutes before the break.

After Roche had parried away Drey Wright’s curling effort, Ellison handled Richard Brindley’s fierce shot in the area and Porter slotted home the penalty.

Vincent-Young drilled a shot straight at Roche before the break, as Colchester went in at half-time leading.

Tom Eastman headed wide from a corner and Brindley curled a free-kick over in the opening stages of the second half, as the U’s looked to extend their lead.

But Morecambe equalised with 13 minutes remaining when substitute Lee Molyneux's 20-yard free-kick flew through Walker's hands and into the net.

And although substitutes Kurtis Guthrie and Tarique Fosu both went close for the U's late on, the spoils were shared.