Sean Murray's powerful strike just after half-time helped Colchester United claim a point in their 1-1 draw with Grimsby Town.

Murray lashed in with the second half less than two minutes old to earn a draw for his side, after Charles Vernam had given the Mariners a first-half lead.

Colchester, who have now gone five games without a win, were flat in the first half but improved after the break and Drey Wright and Sammie Szmodics both came close to bagging a winner.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made two changes to his starting line-up for their game against Grimsby.

Tom Lapslie and Kane Vincent-Young were recalled to the U’s starting line-up, with Brandon Comley and Mikael Mandron dropping to the bench.

There was also a place among the substitutes for recent signing Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.

Grimsby had three former U’s players in their starting line-up – Nathan Clarke, Karleigh Osborne and Jake Kean – while Scott Vernon was on the bench.

Grimsby came into the game on the back of four straight defeats but their impressive first-half performance belied their poor recent form.

They started well and Vernam’s low shot was palmed away well by Colchester keeper Sam Walker in the fourth-minute, following Clarke’s ball into the box.

James Berrett’s fine long-range half volley was pushed away to his left by Walker soon after and although Sean Murray’s low deflected 25-yard free-kick was easily dealt with by Kean, Colchester struggled to find any rhythm in their play.

They were lucky not to fall behind in the 24th minute when Osborne’s volley from a corner clattered the crossbar before flying off for a goal-kick.

And although Ryan Jackson’s low 25-yard drive flashed inches wide, the visitors looked far more likely to score and dominated the possession.

Walker just about held onto Luke Summerfield’s close-range header on the line on the half hour mark after Ben Davies had delivered a fine cross into the six-yard box.

But Colchester fell behind eight minutes before the break when Vernam clinically side-footed home from the edge of the area after Paul Dixon had latched onto substitute Vernon’s flick-on and picked him out.

It almost got even worse for the U’s two minutes later when Walker dived to push away Vernam’s fierce shot at his near post and Colchester were booed off by some of their own fans, at the break.

Colchester sent on Courtney Senior for defender Ryan Inniss at the break, moving to four at the back in a bid to get back into the game - and it took them less than two minutes of the second half to find an equaliser.

Senior’s skill and trickery allowed Wright to eventually pick out Murray, who lashed the ball home from edge of the area.

Colchester were given a scare soon after when Vernam picked up possession 20 yards out and lashed in a fierce shot that Walker did brilliantly to push away, while Ben Davies wastefully headed a golden opportunity wide at the far post for the visitors.

But Colchester also looked dangerous and with 20 minutes remaining, winger Wright flew down the right flank before whipping in a shot that flashed inches wide of the far post.

Szmodics ballooned a good chance over the bar from inside the area eight minutes later but Colchester had to settle for a point.