COLCHESTER United played out a 1-1 draw with Macclesfield Town, in League Two.

Theo Robinson's goal just before half-time cancelled out Emmanuel Osadebe's early strike, as the spoils were shared at Moss Rose.

Here are five talking points from the match, as Colchester made it seven points from nine in their last three league games.

POINT TAKEN

WE’LL take the point and move on.

The words of John McGreal, after he saw his Colchester United battle out a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield Town.

After the U’s exploits against Spurs a few days earlier, it was almost inevitable that there would be some kind of come down from that magnificent performance and result.

So it proved, at least in the first half but the fact that Colchester were able to come away from a rain-sodden Moss Rose with a point was a positive, given the circumstances.

PLAYING THE SYSTEM

COLCHESTER’S formation against Macclesfield was a throwback to earlier times, in John McGreal’s reign.

The U’s head coach regularly went with three at the back in previous seasons and sprung something of a surprise by reverting back to it at Moss Rose, in a bid to freshen things up after a gruelling run of fixtures.

After a bit of a shaky start, the system worked pretty well particularly with Tom Eastman lending weight to the attack on the right flank, from where the in-form defender provided the vital cross for Theo Robinson’s equaliser just before half-time.

SIGNING OF THE SUMMER?

FRESH from his exploits for Colchester in their Carabao Cup triumph over Spurs last week, Dean Gerken was at it again at the weekend.

The U’s goalkeeper made two excellent saves at Macclesfield and put in another assured display, to help his side claim a point at Moss Rose.

Could Gerken be the signing of the summer in League Two?

There can’t be too many new arrivals in the division who have made more of an impact so far, this season.

GETTING PHYSICAL

ONE member of the press quipped that Fiacre Kelleher’s disallowed ‘goal’ for Macclesfield in the dying moments of their 1-1 draw with the U’s might easily have been given - in the 1950s.

That might well have been the case but in 2019, challenging a goalkeeper in the manner that Kelleher did in bundling the ball into the net is seldom permitted by any referee, at any level.

Macclesfield head coach Daryl McMahon was of the opinion that the goal should have been given.

But referee Christopher Pollard was right in deciding Kelleher’s challenge on U’s keeper Dean Gerken was far too physical for the effort to stand.

A CLASSY TOUCH

ONE of the things that stands out travelling up and down the country reporting on Colchester United is the camaraderie that often exists between rival sets of League Two supporters.

Another example of that was at Moss Rose, where prior to the match Macclesfield's PA announcer congratulated the U’s three times on their Carabao Cup triumph over Spurs.

On each occasion, the announcement was met with warm applause from the home fans.

It was a classy touch from the Silkmen.