Colchester United held to a draw by struggling Morecambe

The U’s drew 1-1 with the Shrimps at a rain-sodden Globe Arena and finished the game with only ten men, after right-back Ryan Jackson was sent off with seven minutes to go after collecting a second yellow card.

Frank Nouble had given Colchester the lead in the first half but that was cancelled out by Adam Phillips with 21 minutes remaining.

Colchester extended their unbeaten league run to 12 matches but they shared the spoils in front of 100 U’s fans, who had made the long trip up to Lancashire.

John McGreal made one change to his starting line-up for their game at Morecambe.

Kwame Poku was recalled to the U’s starting line-up at the expense of Luke Gambin, who dropped to the bench.

There was another alteration among the substitutes, with Michael Fernandes in the 18 in place of Theo Robinson who has returned to Southend United.

Colchester, kicking against the strong wind in the first half, were patient in their build-up from the off but both sides took their time to get going in difficult conditions.

The Shrimps registered the game’s first effort on goal in the 17th minute when Phillips' 25-yard free-kick dipped just over the bar.

But Colchester went close again a minute later when Luke Norris’s snap-shot from a tight angle was tipped away for a corner by goalkeeper Mark Halstead.

Both sides struggled to create meaningful opportunities in the opening quarter of the match but as the first half progressed, the tempo increased.

Jordan Slew's effort from the edge of the area flew over for Morecambe just after the half hour mark, after some good build-up play by the hosts.

But Colchester then made the breakthrough they were looking for in the 35th minute.

From a disputed throw in line with the edge of the Morecambe area, Ryan Clampin collected possession and delivered a low and precise cross into the area which Frank Nouble fired into the net from close range.

As conditions quickly deteriorated, Norris’s deflected effort sailed just wide of the far post for a corner a few minutes later and Harry Pell saw a similar attempt fly wide just before half-time, as the U’s went in at the break ahead.

Morecambe started the second half well and were almost level, three minutes after the interval.

Carlos Mendes-Gomes’ close-range effort from Cole Stockton’s pass seemed to squirm away from U’s keeper Dean Gerken who did well to avert the danger before the ball deflected wide for a corner.

And Gerken was busy again just before the hour, making a good save low down at his near post after Jordan Slew was afforded too much room on the U's right to cut inside and try his luck with a low shot.

Colchester almost doubled their lead when Poku ran at the Morecambe defence before curling a low left-foot effort towards goal that keeper Mark Halstead pushed onto the post and away.

But the Shrimps came close to equalising a few seconds later through Slew, who somehow fired the ball over with the goal gaping after Gerken had spilled Cole Stockton’s shot in the wet conditions.

Colchester went close again midway through the second half when Pell's long-range free-kick was pushed away for a corner by Halstead.

But Morecambe got back on level terms in the 69th minute through Adam Phillips, who nodded past Gerken from close range from substitute John O’Sullivan’s cross.

U’s boss McGreal responded by sending on Luke Gambin for Callum Harriott and then Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe for Poku but Colchester were reduced to ten men with seven minutes remaining when Ryan Jackson was sent off for a foul on Carlos Mendes-Gomes, which was his second bookable offence.

Both sides pushed hard for a winner after that; Halstead pushed away Nouble’s effort with two minutes to go and A-Jay Leitch-Smith volleyed a good chance over for Morecambe but the spoils were shared.