COLCHESTER United battled to their second successive away goal-less draw after claiming a well-deserved point at Salford City tonight.

The U’s were well worth their draw at the Peninsula Stadium against the side with the best home record in League Two, keeping their second successive clean sheet in the process.

It has been nearly six and a half hours since Colchester last scored a goal but U’s interim first-team coach Wayne Brown will be pleased with how solid and disciplined his side looked, against the play-off chasing Ammies.

They defended well and were organised throughout, more than meriting the point they came away with.

Brown named an unchanged starting line-up and substitutes for their second-ever visit to the Peninsula Stadium.

The U’s started the game with the worst away record in the division, against a Salford side with the best home results.

But despite their travel sickness, it was Colchester who made the brighter start and enjoyed more of the possession, in the early stages.

Indeed, the U’s almost took a 16th-minute lead when skipper Harry Pell headed a gilt-edged chance over the bar, from Callum Harriott’s curled free-kick into the six-yard box.

Both sides had penalty shouts in the opening stages, with the U’s claiming a handball in the area and Salford appealing for a spot-kick after Brandon Thomas-Asante tumbled under Tommy Smith’s challenge, in the area.

Neither appeals were successful, though and the U’s had another legitimate penalty appeal rejected when Salford defender Ibou Touray appeared to handle Ryan Clampin’s diagonal pass, in the area.

Salford went close to breaking the deadlock in the 43rd minute through James Wilson, whose crisp shot from 20 yards whistled just wide of a post after Tommy Smith had been dispossessed in a dangerous area.

But the U’s deserved to be on level terms at the break and the second half started in similar fashion, with much of the game being played out in midfield.

However, Salford did come close to scoring in the 53rd minute when Jason Lowe's far-post header from Touray's deep cross dropped inches wide of the post.

And just after Colchester had made their first change, with Noah Chilvers on for Paris Cowan-Hall, the hosts came even closer when Touray curled a shot over the bar from inside the area after Brendan Wiredu had done well to make a vital block in the area.

Colchester went close on the hour mark through Callum Harriott, whose low shot was pushed wide for a corner by keeper Vaclav Hladky after good build-up play involving Pell and Frank Nouble.

And Chilvers was unfortunate to only find the arms of Hladky with a fierce shot from the edge of the area with 16 minutes to go, as the contest opened up.

Colchester received something of a let off four minutes later when Shamal George appeared to get caught out by a high ball and handled outside his own area, only for the referee to award the U’s a free-kick to the U's for a foul on the keeper.

Both sides looked for a winner towards the end but the U’s had to settle for another deserved away point.

COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Welch-Hayes, Eastman, Smith, Clampin, Cowan-Hall (sub Chilvers, 56), Pell, Wiredu, Harriott, Brown, Nouble.

Subs (not used): Cracknell, Tchamadeu, Stevenson, Senior, Oteh, Coulter.

U’s man of the match: Brendan Wiredu.

Salford City: Hladky, Touray, Lowe, Eastham, Bernard, Turnbull, Threlkeld, Gotts (sub Henderson, 62), Coutts (sub Hunter, 62), Thomas-Asante (sub Burgess, 89), Wilson (sub Towell, 72).

Subs (not used): Evans, James, Clarke.

Referee: Scott Oldham.

Bookings: Colchester: Smith (foul, 19). Salford: Eastham (foul, 43), Turnbull (foul, 82).