Angry Blackpool boss Nigel Worthington labelled his team's performance as "pathetic" even though they snatched a point with a last-ditch equaliser via a maiden league goal from fullback Ian Hughes.

But it was frustrated Colchester chief Steve Wignall who had more reason to be hot under the collar after watching his shot-shy warriors inexplicably squander at least three gilt-edged opportunities to have comfortably won this rain-drenched Layer Road encounter.

Record signing Neil Gregory, hid confidence wrecked by woeful luck anywhere near goal this season, was guilty of glaring misses in the fifth and last minutes of the opening half.

Scott Stamps, who missed a sitter in the U's goalless draw at Lincoln seven days earlier, repeated the dose when clean through on goal in the sixth minute.

To make matters worse Blackpool's late-replacement keeper Phil Barnes was in outstanding form.

The draw on Saturday stretched Colchester's undefeated League run to six outings.

It also left Blackpool searching for their first ever win at Layer Road in seven games since the clubs first met in 1971.

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