Steven Gillespie's superb equaliser helped Colchester United secure a 1-1 draw with high-flying Sheffield United tonight.

Gillespie struck 11 minutes into the second half for his ninth goal in ten matches, lifting a fine shot into the top corner from 20 yards after Kayode Odejayi had showed considerable strength to feed the ball to him.

It helped to cancel out Will Hoskins' first-half opener for the Blades, as a high-tempo affair finished all square.

Colchester had looked dangerous early on, with Ian Henderson testing Sheffield United keeper Steve Simonsen in the opening three minutes and Anthony Wordsworth also going close.

But Stephen Quinn's deflected effort went over for the visitors and Hoskins put the Blades ahead when he lifted a shot over Colchester keeper Ben Williams, from Ched Evans' pass.

Colchester responded well to the setback in the second half though.

Gillespie got the U's back on level terms with his 11th goal of the season and then went close twice in a matter of minutes soon after.

Both sides went for victory after that, with Henderson going close for the U's and Evans forced Williams into a save late on, as honours finished even.

See Wednesday's Gazette for a full match report, pictures and reaction to the U's draw with Sheffield United.