DANNY Cowley was disappointed his Colchester United side were unable to go on and beat Sutton United following today's 1-1 draw at Gander Green Lane.

The U's had led through Cameron McGeehan's seventh-minute goal but Charlie Lakin equalised for Sutton in the 18th minute.

Owen Goodman made an 80th-minute penalty save from Harry Smith, as Colchester claimed a point which leaves them five points above the League Two drop zone, following Forest Green Rovers' win over Tranmere Rovers.

READ MORE: Match report as Colchester United drew with Sutton United

Cowley said: “Sometimes, in football moments can have a big influence on the outcome of the game.

“We’re 1-0 up and we’re in a really good place in the game and in real control.

“Arthur Read has hit the inside of the post and we have another really good chance with Jayden Fevrier – if we find a second goal there, then you take a lot of their fight away.

“We didn’t and they’re small margins.

“To be fair, I felt we gifted them a goal and that allowed them to get some energy and momentum in the game and we had a difficult spell, going into half-time.

“We had to regroup at half-time and I thought we did that well and in the second half, we looked the better team, in that early period.

Gazette:

“At the moment, we lose our rhythm really quickly.

“We can make one bad decision and one bad execution and it can really affect our rhythm.

“We just need to be a little bit more durable than that, I think.

“We knew we had to be brave on the ball.

“I’ve watched them and they’re a heavyweight boxer – we’re not.

READ MORE: Sutton United 1 Colchester United 1 - as it happened 

“So, if we try to play the way that they play, they’ll beat us so we had to be brave which is the challenge on the surface, for sure."

It was a difficult surface for both sides, with the pitch often proving unpredictable.

Cowley continued: “The pitch was very difficult for sure but it’s the same for both teams.

“We couldn’t find our rhythm at times because of the surface but ultimately as a player, if you’re moaning about the pitch then all I would say to you is ‘do better and play at a higher level so that you can play on better pitches’.

“That’s the reality for me and I never like to make those excuses as I think they’re weak but I do think it was very attritional game against a very awkward opponent.

“I know Sutton are where they are in the league but we’ve been here for seven games now and I have to say that in the opposition analysis work we did, they were probably the most awkward opponent that we’ve faced.

Gazette:

“They play very direct, they get balls into the box very quickly and Harry Smith is a real handful.

“When you deal with the first ball, they then lock on in midfield very well for the second ball, they go wide and get crosses into your box, so they ask a lot of questions and I thought we stood up to that, on the whole.

“In periods, I thought we played with really good rhythm."

Cowley praised Goodman for his penalty save and said he was always confident his goalkeeper would keep out Smith's spot-kick.

“I knew Owen would save it," said Cowley.

“That’s why I was calm, I was getting a sub ready – I watch him every day in training and he’s so fast across his line.

Gazette:

“He has such a high level of athleticism and I’m so pleased for him, because he’s had a couple of difficult moments recently and it’s easy to criticise.

“He made the mistake against Forest Green and he was a little bit disappointed with the Harrogate goal but after the Harrogate game, I didn’t speak to him.

“Some players, I feel the need to and to manage them but Owen is an elite goalkeeper and I think he’s got a really good mindset.

“He’s a boy who doesn’t get too low when he has a disappointment and too high when he has a moment like this and that is ultimately why he can manage himself without too much input by me."

Colchester had led through McGeehan's goal, which was the end product of a good team move.

Cowley added: “It was brilliant timing by Cameron which he’s done all his career and found a really good goal.

“We were so close to finding a second goal, which got disallowed for offside.

“There were a lot of marginal moments offensively for us."