A FINE late equaliser from Noah Chilvers earned Colchester United a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers, following a barnstorming finish at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Chilvers controlled before striking home a superb left-foot strike from the edge of the area in the 88th minute, after Charlie Daniels' free-kick had not been cleared.

It was the very least the U's deserved after they had worked hard to find an equaliser, after Brett Pitman had given Rovers the lead with a headed goal just before the hour.

Rovers finshed the game with nine men, after substitute Trevor Clarke was sent off along with U's right-back Junior Tchamadeu for violent conduct.

Cian Harries had earlier in the second half been given his marching orders for the visitors, for two bookable offences.

Colchester made one change to their starting line-up, with Sylvester Jasper handed his first league start since September 18 on the back of his winning goal against Harrogate Town, last weekend.

Chilvers dropped to the bench, with Alan Judge, Ryan Clampin and Miles Welch-Hayes all absent again.

The PA system was frustratingly down for a second successive match at the JobServe Community Stadium, which did little to build the atmosphere ahead of the game.

But when kick-off came around, it was the U’s who set the early pace.

And Colchester should have gone ahead in the 14th minute through Freddie Sears, who was denied by keeper James Belshaw at point-blank range after Cole Skuse had dispossessed Antony Evans on the edge of the Rovers area.

Jasper had an effort blocked by a defender at close range soon after and only Harries’ last-ditch challenge prevented Sears from troubling the visitors’ goal again.

But Rovers were in the game; they came close midway through the half when veteran Brett Pitman’s first-time effort whistled inches wide from Evans’ pass.

And in first-half stoppage-time, Colchester had an almighty let-off when Pitman’s low effort pushed onto the inside of a post by goalkeeper Shamal George, who then gathered the ball after it had rolled along the goal-line.

Colchester made a change at half-time, bringing on Chilvers for Skuse.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Pitman’s downward header flew straight at George while at the other end, Wiredu’s goalbound header from a corner deflected off Alfie Kilgour near the goal-line and flew over for another set-piece, as both sides pressed for an opener.

And it came in the 58th minute through Pitman, whose flick header at the near post from Evans’ corner flew past George and in.

Colchester almost fell further behind four minutes later when Kilgour wastefully blasted over the bar from Aaron Collins’ pass while Pitman had an effort disallowed for a push soon after, as the visitors pressed for further goals.

But Colchester came close to an equaliser midway through the second half when stand-in captain Luke Chambers headed substitute Armando Dobra’s corner wide at the far post.

The chances kept on coming and Collins blasted a good opportunity over the bar for Rovers, after Thomas had spotted his run and sent the former U’s loanee through on goal.

But Colchester came close to an equaliser with eight minutes remaining when Dobra was denied well by Belshaw from close range, after the ball had broken to the U's man in the area.

And Chilvers lashed home an excellent equaliser, to earn Colchester a point.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Eastman, Daniels, Skuse (sub Chilvers, 46), Wiredu, Hannant (sub Tovide, 89), Jasper (sub Dobra, 62), Sears, Nouble.

Subs (not used): Smith, Coxe, Kennedy, Turner.

U’s man of the match: Noah Chilvers.

Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Kilgour, Thomas (sub Coutts, 77), Taylor, Anderson, Evans, Harries, Whelan, Pitman, Collins (sub Hoole, 85), Nicholson (sub Clarke, 81).

Subs (not used): Westbrooke, Anderton, Spence, Ward.

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire).

Bookings: Colchester: Wiredu (foul, 36), Chambers (foul, 45), Eastman (foul, 65). Bristol Rovers: Harries (foul, 51; unsporting behaviour, 87).

Red cards: Colchester: Tchamadeu (violent conduct, 89). Bristol Rovers: Harries (two bookings, 87), Clarke (violent conduct, 89).

Goals: Colchester: Chilvers (88). Bristol Rovers: Pitman (58).

Attendance: 2,069 (257 Bristol Rovers fans).