COLCHESTER United's under-18s struck late to rescue a 3-3 draw in their eventful Under-18 Professional Development League Two game at Watford, writes BRIAN WALLER.

The U's raced into a two-goal lead only for the Hornets to respond with three goals of their own, before the visitors scored in the final minute to claim only their fifth league point of the season.

Colchester's under-18s went into their first away game of 2019 still searching for their first league win of the season but had shown better form in recent matches.

However, Watford had won 5-2 at Florence Park earlier in the season and were in a confident mood having beaten Southampton 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup fourth round, a few days earlier.

Colchester led at the break after Jake Hutchinson got on the end of an Andre Hasanally cross.

And when Callum Anderson then released a through ball for Hutchinson to give the U's a 2-0 lead, the visitors must have thought that it might be their first three points of the season.

That all changed though as Watford then stormed back to take a 3-2 lead, scoring three times in a ten-minute spell.

It looked like the Hornets would take all three points but just when it looked as if it was going to be another U’s defeat, they struck back in the final minute of the match.

Their young trialist central defender equalised from a Harvey Sayer corner to secure Colchester a share of the spoils and ensure an exciting contest finished honours even.