THERE were familiar faces in the away end at Moor Lane last night as Colchester United played out a 1-1 draw at Salford City.

Former U's defender Junior Tchamadeu was among the away fans, as the U's claimed a point in League Two.

The 20-year-old watched his former club share the spoils, with Bradley Ihionvien's 75th-minute strike cancelling out Matt Smith's opener, scored just before half-time.

Tchamadeu left Colchester last September to join Stoke on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.

READ MORE: Danny Cowley's verdict on Colchester's draw at Salford City

The U's 2022-23 Player of the Year made nearly 100 league and cup appearances for the North Essex club after making his senior debut for them at the age of 16 in December, 2020.

Tchamadeu has registered 17 first-team appearances for Stoke in the Championship, so far, surpassing a century of senior games in his professional career.

The former U's favourite featured in last month's African Cup of Nations for Cameroon.

Gazette:

Steven Gillespie was also another former U's player in the away end at Salford, last night.

Gillespie spent four years at Colchester between 2008 and 2012, after joining them from Cheltenham Town for a fee in excess of £400,000.

The former striker remains the U's record signing.

In total, he made 108 league and cup appearances for the U's, scoring 28 goals.

Gillespie, who also played for the likes of Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, netted 25 goals in 46 league starts for Colchester but his time in north Essex was hampered by injuries.

Gazette:

A Manchester United legend was also in attendance at Colchester's game with Salford.

Paul Scholes, who is a co-owner of Salford along with fellow former United players Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, watched on as the points were shared at Moor Lane.