Colchester's East Hockey League premier B season ended in disappointing fashion as they let a two-goal lead slip for the fourth time this season, drawing 3-3 at home to Chelmsford.

Colchester needed a win to have any chance of finishing fourth bottom and definitely avoiding relegation.

However the draw cast doubt over their place and Colchester have to wait on the national league play-offs in May to find out whether there will be an extra relegation from the division.

Colchester started the game well and had a lot of early possession but with little end product to show for their endeavours. Colchester's first chance fell to Tim Wright. Craig Warriner slipped the ball to Wright on the left but his shot narrowly missed the near post.

Colchester continued to press and substitute Will Devitt went close soon after coming on but the Chelmsford keeper was out well to deny him.

Colchester soon took the lead.

Rohan Khaira showed some good skill down the right before pulling the ball back to Mark Kennedy.

Kennedy's shot was saved by the keeper but Devitt was on hand to put the ball in at the back post.

Colchester were playing with a confidence that belied their position in the league and Warriner went close before they doubled their advantage.

Warriner showed some lovely skill to tip a Matt Low pass over the advancing keeper before sending the ball towards the goal. Warriner's effort hit the post, but Rob Mann was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net.

A lapse in the Colchester defence let Chelmsford back into the game.

The Chelmsford forward was allowed to run with the ball before unleashing a reverse stick shot past Grant Hibbert in the Colchester goal.

Colchester had further chances to restore a two goal advantage through Mann and Duncan Scott.

Mann shooting just wide and Scott just failing to get a touch to a Matt Low cross.

The second half continued in the same vein with Colchester working hard and having the lion share of possession.

Colchester had more chances but always failed at the final hurdle.

Michael Pearce put in a great ball from a free hit but none of the Colchester attackers could get on the ball to deflect it home. Then moments later Mann's first time shot from a Pearce ball went high and wide.

Colchester's best chance early in the half came through Khaira.

Khaira drove down the right before finding Tom Philp. Philp reversed the ball back into Khaira's path to go one-on-one with the Chelmsford keeper.

Khaira fired straight at the keeper when a little pass to Mann would have left Mann with another tap-in. Colchester's chance continued to flow, going close with a number of penalty corners.

Ed Long-Price had a dragflick saved with Matt Foakes' follow up effort also saved by the Chelmsford keeper and Mann deflecting another penalty corner routine just past the post.

Midway through the half Chelmsford grabbed an equaliser against the run of play.

Once again a Long-Price penalty corner was saved with the rebound falling to Wayne Masters.

Masters fired his shot low with the Chelmsford keeper on the floor and a lifted shot would surely have given Colchester the lead once again.

Colchester did retake the lead with barely five minutes remaining.

Another penalty corner to the hosts, this time a slip back to the injector where Khaira swept the ball in first time.

However there was still time for Chelmsford to force an equaliser.

A Chelmsford midfielder dribbled his way into the D before trying to get a shot off.

He completely miss hit his reverse stick effort but the ball bobbled to a team-mate, who fired a first-time shot high past Hibbert into the Colchester net.

Hills Residential man-of-the-match was Long-Price as he controlled the game from the Colchester midfield.