COLCHESTER United under-23s struck late to secure a 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town in the Professional Development League this afternoon, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Tom Stagg and Donell Thomas were on target for Dave Hussey and Richard Hall's side, which featured the likes of Ryan Clampin and Josh Bohui.

Having lost the home encounter at the Jobserve Community Stadium 2-0 back in October, it was a very young squad that travelled to the Town’s training ground at Rushmere to face the side that were currently top of the Southern Division after their late winner at Millwall last week.

The U's on the same afternoon had drawn 2-2 at home to Watford.

Looking for their first win since the end of November, it was the U’s who took the surprise lead midway through the first half with a goal from Donnell Thomas on 22 minutes.

However Town were soon back on level terms on the half hour with an effort by their Albanian youth International Armando Dobra, who saw red when the teams met at Florence Park in last season’s 2-2 draw, a game that saw the visitors recover from a 2-0 deficit.

The teams went to half time level at 1-1 on what was a thoroughly miserable chilly and rainy afternoon.

At least they had some action as the only other game of the afternoon saw the Millwall versus QPR game cancelled in South London due to a frozen pitch.

On the hour mark, Town took the lead with another goal from Dobra, on the hour mark.

But with full-time approaching there was to be a late twist as Colchester equalised through Stagg and thereby gained a share of the spoils.

Colchester United U23: Collins, Akolbire, Clampin, Cornish, Cracknell, Tricker, Bohui, Lowe, Hutchinson, Thomas, Stagg. Subs: Coulter, Parish, Terry, Trialist. 

Ipswich Town U23: Albert White, Dylan Crowe, Brett McGavin, Levi Andoh, Tommy Smith, Jack Lankester, Idris El Mizouni, Liam Gibbs, Ross Crane, Tyreece Simpson and Armando Dobra with Subs: Lewis Ridd, Matt Healy, Kai Brown, Zac Brown and Colin Oppong.