STEVEN Gillespie suffered a suspected broken arm as Colchester United halted a run of four straight away defeats with a 1-1 draw at Brentford this afternoon.

npower League One

Brentford 1 Colchester Utd 1

STEVEN Gillespie suffered a suspected broken arm as Colchester United halted a run of four straight away defeats with a draw at Brentford this afternoon.

The U’s deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute when Ian Henderson nodded in his eighth goal of the season – his sixth away from home – following a fine attacking move.

Colchester striker Steven Gillespie then suffered a suspected broken arm just before the break when, trying to block a defensive clearance, he fell awkwardly on his hand. The Liverpudlian was quickly driven to hospital by friend and team mate David Perkins – himself recovering from a hamstring injury – for treatment and may have to undergo an operation.

U’s keeper Ben Williams made a fine reactionary save to tip Karleigh Osborne’s header over the bar in first half stoppage-time and, after a quiet start to the second period, Brentford began to push hard for an equaliser.

It finally came in the 74th minute when Sam Saunders lashed home a fine free-kick from the edge of the area which left Williams with no chance. Captain Kemi Izzet’s foul – and resultant booking – had been a necessary one to prevent sub Adam Reed bursting into the box.

Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages, Kayode Odejayi seeing a good one-on-one chance saved and Williams keeping out a Nathan Byrne shot at the other end.

Despite there being little to play for in this end-of-season mid-table battle both sides gave it a real good go under the intense west London sunshine and a draw was probably the fairest result.

– Full match report in tomorrow’s EADT. Reaction to follow.

BRENTFORD (4-4-2): Moore; Spillane (Wood), Osborne, Neilson, O’Connor; Weston (Byrne 83), Bean (Reed), Diagouraga, Saunders; Simpson, Grabban.

Unused Subs: Royce, Wright, Schlupp, Reeves.

COLCHESTER UTD (4-4-2): Williams; Wilson, Heath, Smith, Powell; Henderson, Izzet (O’Toole 77), James, Vincent (Wordsworth 77); Mooney, Gillespie (Odejayi 45).

Unused Subs: Cousins; Clarke, White; Bond.

Booked: Izzet (74).

U’s Man-of-the-Match: Ben Williams.

Attendance: 4,480.

Referee: Mr Graham Horwood.