COLCHESTER United's under-23s played out a 1-1 draw with Swansea City in their final game of the season, writes BRIAN WALLER.

The U's youngsters, managed by Dave Huzzey and Richard Hall, played out a draw in their last Professional Development League Two game of the campaign, at Maldon and Tiptree FC.

Colchester had recovered magnificently to draw 3-3 when the two sides had last met at Landore in Plasmarl, last October.

It was a remarkable fightback by Colchester as they trailed 3-0 at one point in the game, but then fought back superbly.

The sides had to date met five times apiece before this match, with two wins each, with the U’s winning their previous two at home, 1-0 in 2012 with a goal by Freddie Ladapo and 5-2 in 2015 with Jack Marriott and Rhys Healey amongst their scorers.

In current form, the Swans went into the game after a 1-0 win at North Division winners Sheffield United, having kept clean sheets in their last three games and are were unbeaten in four and one defeat only in nine.

Meanwhile, Colchester had lost ten league games in a row.

The game was scoreless for most of the first half, until Colchester took the lead ten minutes before half-time through Jake Hutchinson, as the U’s striker was sent clear from a through ball to net after 35 minutes.

But eight minutes after the interval, Swansea saw one of their players, a trialist, shown a red card.

However this did not disadvantage the visitors who equalised 19 minutes from time with a goal by Ali Al-Hamadi from the penalty spot.

Swansea went close again but despite the loss of the lead, the draw meant that it was the U’s first point gained since the win away at QPR on February 16.

They have finished the season bottom of the table but there were strong mitigating circumstances as after the release of several players earlier in the year, the U’s have regularly featured very young teams, with players often doubling up playing for both squads.

Although some teams still have games to play, Bristol City and Ipswich Town have qualified from the Southern section for the end of season play-offs.

Town will travel to play the Northern champions Sheffield United, whilst City will be at home to Birmingham City after Nottingham Forest could only draw their last match 1-1 at home to QPR.