A STOPPAGE-TIME equaliser from Emyr Huws rescued nine-man Colchester United a remarkable point against Swindon Town this afternoon.

Huws converted from Owura Edwards' corner in the second minute of time added on to salvage a draw for the U's, who had finished the game with only nine men after both Shamal George and Luke Chambers had been sent off after Harry McKirdy had given Swindon the lead.

McKirdy converted Ellis Iandolo's pinpoint cross midway through the second half but Colchester showed great character and spirit to battle back and draw.

Wayne Brown named an unchanged side, with Cole Skuse passed fit after suffering an eye problem at Salford.

Noah Chilvers and Dean Gerken both missed out, while Miles Welch-Hayes and Armando Dobra were omitted again.

Colchester went close early on when Dion Conroy headed clear from near his own goal-line, after Luke Hannant had headed on Brendan Wiredu’s flick-on at the far post.

It was a cagey start to the contest with few opportunities being carved out for either side in the first quarter of the match.

But as the first half wore on, the game became a little more open and Swindon went close midway through the first half when Harry McKirdy found space on the edge of the area before drilling a low shot just wide of the post.

Colchester’s pressing was good, preventing Swindon from making inroads through the centre of the pitch and Wiredu, playing in a more advanced role again, controlled in the area before hooking a shot wide.

At the other end, some brilliant last-ditch defending from Luke Chambers did enough to put McKirdy off, after he had raced onto a long ball and only had Shamal George to beat.

Colchester went close six minutes before the break when Hannant’s far-post header was brilliantly saved by Swindon keeper Jojo Wollacott, after Alan Judge had curled in a precise cross.

There was still time before the break for Shamal George to make a good save from Josh Davison, as the sides went in level at half-time.

George was forced to make another save in the opening minutes of the second half, denying McKirdy from close range after Ellis Iandolo had whipped a dangerous cross into the box.

But Colchester did fall behind in the 68th minute when McKirdy converted from close range from another superb Iandolo ball into the six-yard box, to break the deadlock. 

And things got even worse for the U's four minutes later when George was sent off for violent conduct, following an off-the-ball incident with Swindon forward Davison.

U's academy goalkeeper Ted Collins was brought on for his professional debut in place of Judge, as Colchester looked to stay in the game.

Colchester were reduced to nine men with three minutes of normal time remaining when Chambers was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, after fouling Swindon substitute Jayden Mitchell-Lawson on the edge of the area.

But the U's stayed in the game and in stoppage-time, Huws converted Edwards' corner from close range after substitute John Akinde had helped the ball on, to claim a remarkable point.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Dallison, Kenlock, Skuse, Wiredu (sub Akinde, 67), Huws, Hannant (sub Edwards, 83), Judge (sub Collins, 74), Sears.

Subs (not used): Coxe, Eastman, Nouble, Andrews.

U’s man of the match: Cole Skuse.

Swindon Town: Wollacott, Odimayo, Iandolo, Conroy, Lyden (sub Gladwin, 76), Davison, McKirdy (sub Mitchell-Lawson, 81), O'Brien, Williams (sub Aguiar, 89), Hunt, Reed.

Subs (not used): Ward, East, Parsons, Dabre.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Bookings: Colchester: Tchamadeu (foul, 56), Hannant (foul, 60). Swindon: Lyden (foul, 43), Wollacott (unsporting behaviour, 90).

Sent off: George (serious foul play, 72), Chambers (denying a goalscoring opportunity, 87).

Goals: Colchester: Huws (90). Swindon: McKirdy (68).

Attendance: 3,327 (605 Swindon fans).