Colchester United boss Wayne Brown on Leyton Orient draw

The U's looked like they were heading for a crucial win in their battle to beat the drop from League Two, after goals from Myles Kenlock and Owura Edwards had seen them come from behind at a rain-sodden JobServe Community Stadium, following Ruel Sotiriou’s opener.

But Ethan Coleman scored from close-range in the third minute of time added on to denied Colchester a precious victory, leaving them without a win in six matches and two points above the relegation zone with 12 games remaining.

Brown said: “It was so near and yet so far.

“I thought the lads scrapped and battled well.

“It was always going to be a war out there in the fact that the pitch wasn’t conducive to playing.

“That said, I thought we played some good stuff in the second half especially and got into some really good areas.

“The lads were in a hole at 1-0 down and they found a way to get their noses in front and credit to them.

“We had a chance to go 3-1 up with big John (Akinde) on his strong foot and we don’t take it and then inevitably, we shoot ourselves in the foot.

“I thought we took the game to them which was the message in the changing room but there was a sucker punch, after we’d been on top.

“The only way they were going to get back into the game in injury-time was from a set play.

"When you're in the 96th minute of a football match, you need calm heads.

"You need players to make good decisions and ultimately in football, the best players make the best decisions.

"We gave them an opportunity, a free licence to put the ball into our box which we have to defend.

"That's the most disappointing thing about it.

"You have to hold your hands up to their first goal.

"Can you do something about it? Yes you can; the chances of it going in are very slim but it does so you hold your hands up, dust yourselves down and go again which we did.

"But to give them opportunities to put balls into our box in the dying embers of the game is obviously really disappointing.

"He feels like a defeat but it's not, it's another point on the board.

"Yes, we want three and we deserved three but we haven't.

"We've got one and it's about dusting ourselves down and going again on Saturday."

Colchester had turned things around in the second half, with two goals in the space of four minutes from Kenlock and Edwards.

The loanees both netted their second goals for the club, something that pleased Brown.

"Myles has scored a couple now for us which is great," said Brown.

"The goals have got to come from all over the pitch to get success.

"I'm pleased for young O (Owura Edwards) as well, getting on the scoresheet.

"He's worked extremely hard over the last few fixtures and he deserves a little bit of reward and that was it.

"He's tenacious and he does everything that he can in the right areas of the pitch and I thought he was very effective."