A superb late equaliser from Charley Edge secured Colchester United's under-23s a share of the spoils against Coventry City at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tonight.

Edge let fly with an excellent strike with five minutes remaining to ensure a 1-1 draw for Wayne Brown's side against the Sky Blues, in Professional Development League Two.

Colchester's recent signings Tommy O'Sullivan and Rekeil Pyke both started for the U's, along with Alex Wynter and Kane Vincent-Young.

Colchester fell behind in the seventh minute when Jordan Shipley scored with a low drive that flew into the far corner past keeper Dillon Barnes.

Shipley nodded a good chance wide soon after but the U's were close to equalising midway through the first half when O'Sullivan was denied by Corey Addai who made a fantastic flying save.

The Coventry keeper was in superb form throughout the first half, making good saves to foil Pyke, George Brown, Louis Dunne and substitute Tariq Issa before half-time.

Colchester felt they might have had a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half when Cameron James fell in the area following a free-kick but the referee waved away their protests.

After that, Coventry began to look good value for their lead but as the clock ticked down, the U's pressed for an equaliser.

Edge and James both came close before Colchester finally got back on level terms with five minutes remaining.

Addai denied Dunne before the end, as the spoils were shared.

Colchester United: Barnes, Vincent-Young (sub Ocran, 46), James, Diaz Wright, Peter, Wynter, Brown, Edge, Pyke, O'Sullivan (sub Issa, 34), Dunne. Subs (not used): Williams, Phipps, Pollard.