COLCHESTER United boss Hayden Mullins praised the character of his side after they battled back to claim a point against Mansfield Town.

The U’s looked like they were heading for a second successive 1-0 home defeat at the JobServe Community Stadium, after their former loanee Elliott Hewitt had headed the Stags into a 73rd-minute lead.

But Freddie Sears converted a last-gasp penalty deep into stoppage-time to rescue a point for the hosts, after Frank Nouble had been adjudged to have been fouled in the box.

Mullins said: “That feels like a victory in the end.

“When you snatch a draw like that right at the end, it lifts the players in a strange way.

“The dressing room is a bit more bubbly, because we knew that if we’d lost again today, it would be tough work for us.

“Mansfield started well; we made a few changes to our shape and that settled us down a little bit.

“It was a tough start – we lost (Tom) Eastman and Ryan (Clampin) to injury but Charlie Daniels came on and settled us down.

“He’s got real quality on the ball and he helped us get a grip in the second half.

“Mansfield are a good side, the way they play their system and really attacking in what they do, so it was a tough game.

“For their goal, we should have stopped the cross and that was the disappointing thing.

“Our right-back got caught up the pitch and they countered on us.

“They’re a good side; they’ve got good forward players and we end up with Luke Hannant back post trying to defend against Elliott Hewitt who’s centre-half size.

“But the character and the fight that we showed to get back into the game was very pleasing.

“I said to the boys we always need a bit of a punch or a slap to wake up and that’s the way we need to start the game.”

Mansfield were upset with referee Sam Allison’s decision to award a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time but Mullins was philosophical.

He said: “Most of the game, Frank has defenders climbing all over him and he never gets his fair share of free-kicks in play, I don’t think.

“He stays on his feet so that one where he goes down in the box looked like there was a defender on his back – we appealed and it either goes for you or it doesn’t in those situations and thankfully, it went for us.

“We knew Fred was on penalties and credit to him.

“It took a long time for the kick to be taken and there were bodies around him trying to put him off.

“There was a lot going on – I see young Sylvester (Jasper) wanted to take it off him but he wouldn’t let that happen!

“He kept his nerve and he got the goal he deserved.”

Colchester goalkeeper Shamal George performed superbly again, making a number of saves to keep his side in the game.

Mullins added: “Sham (George) is earning his money!

“But he’s a good young goalkeeper and he needs to keep it going and he needs to be consistent and working at his game.”