Premier BColchester 2 Bury St Edmunds 2COLCHESTER were denied all three points in their vital relegation battle with Bury St Edmunds as the visitors snatched a late equaliser.

Premier B

Colchester 2 Bury St Edmunds 2

COLCHESTER were denied all three points in their vital relegation battle with Bury St Edmunds as the visitors snatched a late equaliser.

The hosts came into the game knowing that victory would lift them out of the bottom three but started slowly and deservedly went behind after 15 minutes.

This setback seemed to spark Colchester into life and they began to find their passes and were rewarded when Matt Brown scored his eighth goal in five games, firing in from a short corner.

Colchester could have had a half-time lead but Matt Low's thunderous short corner strike was blocked on the line by a Bury defender.

The home side never found top form but created a host of second half chances most notably when Tom Philp was denied twice by a Bury defender on the line.

Colchester eventually took the lead when a fine team move involving Duncan Scott and Tim Wright resulted in Richard Sexton slotting home for his first goal at this level.

Bury were reduced to ten men when one of their midfielders were shown a yellow card for an off the ball incident.

Colchester should have made the game safe during this period with Rob Mann striking the upright when clean through and Brown was somehow denied from the rebound by the sprawling 'keeper.

The hosts were made to pay when they gave away a needless free hit in the '25' with five minutes to go. Bury fired the ball into the circle and an attacker got a deft touch to leave Grant Hibbert with no chance.

Colchester dominated the rest of the game without creating any clear cut chances whilst the visitors were happy to hold on for an undeserved point.

Colchester now face a trip to Broxbourne this Saturday for another important game against a team currently three points ahead of them.

Tom Philp was named Hills Residential Man of the Match after the game for his hard work and endeavour in the Colchester forward line.

Colchester Hockey Club Results

Men's I 2 Bury St Edmunds 2

Men's II 0 Crostyx II 4

Men's III v Brentwood postponed

Men's IV v Romford II postponed

Men's V 2 Romford III 4

Ladies' I v Braintree postponed

Ladies' II 1 Maldon & Little Baddow 1

Ladies' II v Wapping postponed