CRAWLEY Town boss John Yems felt a draw was a fair outcome after seeing his side share the spoils with Colchester United.

The U's took a 13th-minute lead through Callum Harriott's spectacular long-range strike in the League Two clash, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

But Jordan Tunnicliffe levelled things up seven minutes later and that was the way it stayed, as the sides played out a 1-1 draw.

Yems said: “I think 1-1 is a fair result but I’m disappointed not to come away with the three points.

“But at the same token, I think the lads put a good shift in.

“We missed a few chances but once again, the spirit was there and we stuck with it.

“If you look at it logically, had it been a league game last Saturday it would be four points.

“Their goal could have been stopped – the actual shot was a great finish but he shouldn’t have got into that position to do it.

“The lads know they should have put a tackle in and you have to stop these things from happening but that’s me being super critical.

“It was preventable from our point of view but what a finish by the lad (Harriott).

“We created a lot of chances but fair play to them as well – they’re a good little side and it’s always tough to come here.

"They gave us a good game but at the end of the game, I think we were finishing well.

"It's not in our nature to just turn it in and you're going to get beat, you get beat honestly.

"If we weren't creating the chances, I'd be worried but their keeper has made a couple of good saves and earned his money.

"With better finishing from us, maybe we'd have scored again but they will go in and as long as we keep creating and defending like we do, I think we'll be OK."

The draw leaves the two sides side by side in the League Two table.

Colchester are 12th, two points ahead of 13th-placed Crawley who have played a game more than the U's.

Yems added: "Let's not count our chickens yet - we're miles off where we want to be.

"It's all about improvement and we want to keep improving every game and get people back and fit.

"Everyone is saying it - you can't afford to pick up little injuries.

"If you keep them on for too long, you might lose them for three or four games.

"With the way we play, we have to have everybody fit."