COLCHESTER United struck an equaliser deep into stoppage-time to secure a dramatic point with a 2-2 draw at Swindon Town this afternoon.

The U's came from 2-0 down to draw, after substitute Brad Ihionvien converted in the fourth minute of stoppage time to secure them a point in Danny Cowley's first game in charge.

The U's will feel they deserved their point at the County Ground after recovering from the blow of conceding two first-half goals.

But Matt Jay pulled a goal back before half-time and Ihionvien then struck a last-gasp goal, to leave the U's fans jubilant.

Danny Cowley made two changes after picking his first starting line-up as Colchester head coach.

Tom Hopper and Matt Jay came in for Joe Taylor who has returned to Luton Town and John Akinde, who was on the bench.

Colchester lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Zach Mitchell at right-back.

After a quiet start, Swindon almost went ahead in the 16th minute when Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman did well to parry Tyrese Shade's shot away for a corner, after Remeao Hutton had played a free-kick into the U's box.

And Colchester fell behind in the 18th minute when referee Richie Watkins pointed to the spot after adjudging that Marley Marshall Miranda had brought down Udoka Godwin-Malife in the box and veteran striker Charlie Austin slammed home the resultant penalty from the spot.

Colchester responded well to the setback and midway through the first half, Swindon goalkeeper Lewis Ward made a brilliant diving save to his left to palm away Hopper's goalbound header from Noah Chilvers' cross.

Jay stooped low to head a cross from former Swindon player Ellis Iandolo straight at Ward from close range but the U’s fell further behind two minutes before the break when Tom Brewitt lifted the ball into the roof of the net inside the six-yard box, after Austin had helped Hutton's delivery into his path.

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But Colchester got themselves back into the contest in the second minute of first-half time added on when Jay nodded in Chilvers’ delivery for his first goal for the club.

It meant the U’s reduced the deficit as they went into half-time and they started the second half brightly, putting pressure on the Swindon defence from the off.

It was almost 2-2 in the opening minutes that followed half-time when Liam Kinsella, son of U's legend Mark Kinsella, cleared Jay's low effort away from near his own goal-line.

The U's enjoyed plenty of possession after the break and Chilvers fired over from a good position on the hour mark, before Colchester made a double change midway through the second half, sending on new signing Conor Wilkinson for his debut along with John Akinde.

But Colchester pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages and their efforts were rewarded with practically the last kick of the game when a Wilkinson back-heel deflected in off Ihionvien, to secure the visitors a hard-earned point.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Goodman, Dallison, Hall, Mitchell (sub Edwards, 76), Iandolo, Fevrier, Read, Miranda (sub Ihionvien, 82), Chilvers, Jay (sub Akinde, 67), Hopper (sub Wilkinson, 67).

Substitutes (not used): Kazeem, Greenidge, Hornby.

Swindon Town: Ward, Hutton, Khan, Brewitt, Cain (sub Aguiar, 67), Kokolo, Godwin-Malife, Kinsella, Shade, Mintum, Austin (sub McEachran, 82).

Subs (not used): Genesini, Dworzak, Hart, Obodo, Evans.

Goals: Colchester: Jay (45), Ihionvien (90). Swindon: Austin (18), Brewitt (43).

Bookings: Colchester: Chilvers (foul, 14), Miranda (foul, 64). Swindon: Shade (foul, 74).

Referee: Richie Watkins.

Attendance: 7,564 (329 U's fans).