A LATE, late equaliser from Freddie Sears earned Colchester United a dramatic 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town tonight.

Sears struck home from the spot after Frank Nouble had been fouled in the area to rescue the U's at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Former U's loanee Elliott Hewitt had looked to have headed the winner against his former club with 17 minutes to go, only for Sears to strike late and salvage a point.

Colchester made four changes to their starting line-up, with Miles Welch-Hayes, Noah Chilvers, Freddie Sears and Luke Hannant all in the team in place of Brendan Wiredu, Cameron Coxe and Sylvester Jasper who were all on the bench and skipper Tommy Smith, who was not in the 18.

Former Bournemouth left-back Charlie Daniels, whose signing on a contract until the end of the season was confirmed before kick-off, was also among the substitutes.

Colchester lined up with three centre-backs, with Chilvers playing in a role just behind front two Frank Nouble and Freddie Sears.

Mansfield made a bright start and U’s goalkeeper Shamal George made a fine eighth-minute low save to deny Ollie Clarke’s long-range shot, before recovering to bravely save the follow-up shot from Danny Johnson and picking up a knock in the process.

Tom Eastman then made two key blocks a few minutes later to deny Clarke who had initially fired in a shot from the edge of the area, as the visitors pressed.

Mansfield were unfortunate not to take a 17th-minute lead when Johnson's far-post header was brilliantly pushed away by George after a fabulous sweeping move from the visitors that resulted in Stephen McLaughlin's deep cross into the area.

And just before the half-hour mark, Farrend Rawson's header from a corner for the Stags was cleared away from near his own goal-line by Cole Skuse.

Colchester struggled to make an impact on the Mansfield goal in the first half, although Frank Nouble had a sniff of goal six yards out five minutes before the break but could only spoon his shot over the bar.

Just before the break, Hannant tried his luck with a powerful 20-yard strike that keeper Nathan Bishop does well to hold on to as the sides went in goal-less at the interval.

Mansfield started the second half strongly and Johnson was sent through on goal by Quinn’s pass in the opening minutes after the restart, only for George to make another vital stop to deny the striker.

New signing Daniels was sent on for his U’s debut just before the hour for Clampin but George was called upon again soon after to make a save low down to his left from Rhys Oates, as the visitors pressed.

And Mansfield went ahead in the 73rd minute through Elliott Hewitt, who rose to plant a fine header into the far corner from Quinn’s precise cross to the far post.

But Sears stuck home in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to rescue Colchester a point.

COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Welch-Hayes, Eastman (sub Coxe, 35), Chambers, Hannant (sub Jasper, 74), Skuse, Judge, Chilvers, Clampin, Sears, Nouble.

Subs (not used): Beadle, Wiredu, Tovide, Turner.

U’s man of the match: Shamal George.

Mansfield Town: Bishop, McLaughlin, Hewitt, Rawson, Clarke, Perch, Quinn, Oates (sub Bowery, 87), Lapslie (sub Stirk), Maris, Johnson.

Subs (not used): Gordon, Hawkins, Shelvey, Burke, Sinclair.

Goals: Colchester: Sears: (90). Mansfield: Hewitt (73).

Referee: Sam Allison.

Bookings: Colchester: Skuse (foul, 58). Mansfield: Quinn (foul, 68), Perch (dissent, 90).

Attendance: 2,354 (224 Mansfield fans).