Pint-sized Colchester United midfielder Tom Lapslie only stands at 5ft 6ins, so it’s quite remarkable that the 20-year-old’s first three senior goals have all been headers.

Following up his first goal, in a 3-2 home win over Bristol City last season, and then an equaliser in a 3-2 victory over Altrincham in the FA Cup last December, Lapslie buried a 97th minute equaliser with a flying header at Barnsley last Saturday.

“That’s three goals now, and they’ve all been headers, two in the league and one in the FA Cup,” enthused Laspslie.

“I wasn’t expecting that one, to be fair. I just saw the ball go up to Shores (Nicky Shorey), and thought I’d get into the box.

“The ball went over my head, so I thought – ‘oh dear’ – but it came out to Joe (Edwards), so I stayed in there. Joe picked me out and I stuck it in the back of the net.

“I was not thinking about anything else other than to get my head on it and to try and score.

“Probably no-one could see it coming.

“It just shows the desire we have got in the team, albeit with how this season has gone on.

“We all stuck together. We were makeshift, with Elliott (Parish) off and Macca (Macauley Bonne) in goal, but we stuck at it and I think we deserved it.

“A point each was fair enough, I think. They are going to kick themselves that they have thrown that away, like we have done before this season by conceding last minute goals.

“It does hit you hard, and they’ll be feeling down for a few days.”

Given a rare chance to start, by caretaker boss David Wright, Lapslie also gave a special mention to former manager Kevin Keen.

“We were all sad to see Kevin go, obviously. He was well liked, and I wish him all the best for the future, whatever that will bring,” added Lapslie.

The U’s finish their season with a home match against Rochdale on SUnday.