Colchester continued improved form with draw at Mansfield Town

The U's produced another solid defensive performance at Field Mill to maintain their upturn in results in League Two.

It was a pretty forgettable first half, with little in the way of excitement for either set of fans.

The opening 45 minutes was a fragmented affair, punctuated frequently by the shrill sound of referee Darren Deadman’s whistle.

Ashley Hemmings curled a shot well wide from inside the area for Mansfield in the opening minutes, before the hosts squandered a fantastic opportunity with 12 minutes gone.

The unmarked Matt Green inexplicably dragged wide from eight yards with only U’s keeper Sam Walker to beat after an attempted U’s clearance hit Frankie Kent and rebounded into his path following a free-kick into the box.

Malvind Benning curled a left foot shot wide from 25 yards after a spell of Mansfield pressure and then soon after dragged wide from 20 yards after more good build-up play by the hosts.

Colchester were rarely seen as an attacking force in the Mansfield area, although Kurtis Guthrie’s header from Owen Garvan’s free-kick into the box comfortably saved by keeper Scott Shearer.

And with four minutes of the first half remaining, Garvan’s low 20-yard effort was turned around the post by Shearer for a corner as the sides went in goal-less at the break.

The second half unfolded in much the same fashion, with neither side able to exert their dominance on the game.

U's keeper Walker made a good low save to deny Green just after the hour mark while minutes later, the Mansfield forward headed over from Lee Collins' ball into the U's area.

Colchester sent on Sammie Szmodics for Johnstone with 13 minutes remaining, in a bid to find a winner.

Tom Eastman's header was palmed onto the top of his crossbar by the back-pedalling Shearer in the 90th minute, as the U's came close to grabbing victory.

But neither side was able to find the net, as honours finished even in a tight game.