Colchester United drew with Forest Green in League Two

Here are five observations from the U's thrilling League Two match at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Spirited U's

THE biggest positive to come out of Colchester United’s 3-3 draw with Forest Green Rovers was the manner of their second-half revival.

Having found themselves 2-0 down at half-time after a flat first-half performance against the division’s bottom team, the U’s did so well to have transformed their fortunes and gone 3-2 up, with less than a quarter of an enthralling League Two contest remaining.

READ MORE: Former U's winger joins National League club on loan

Colchester had all of the momentum once Alistair Smith had pulled a goal back just after the hour mark and further goals from Jayden Fevrier and Harry Anderson within the space of five minutes left them in control.

They showed fantastic spirit and passion to turn things around, characteristics typical of the Cowleys’ teams over the years.

As Danny Cowley has said, you can never beat the man who never gives up; it is encouraging to see that ethos is already in evidence within Colchester’s squad, in these embryonic days of the Cowleys’ reign.

It is no coincidence that Colchester have now gone four games unbeaten under the club’s new management team, having been far too easy to beat prior to their arrival.

Easy riders

IN his programme notes, Danny Cowley stressed that no visiting team should come to the JobServe Community Stadium and get an easy ride.

READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Forest Green draw

But the truth is that Forest Green Rovers were given a helping hand in the first half by Colchester United.

It would perhaps be unfair to say that the visitors had it all their own way in the first half but the U’s lacklustre display in the opening 45 minutes certainly contributed to Steve Cotterill’s side being 2-0 ahead at the break in a pivotal match.

Colchester played too deep in the first half, lacked aggression and struggled to find any rhythm or tempo.

In contrast, Forest Green were organised and disciplined in the first half, with the training ground work of their experienced new boss Cotterill showing in their performance.

The good thing was that Colchester’s players were able to take on the feedback they were given at half-time and put in a much-improved second-half performance, to take something from an important game.

Ups and downs of a goalkeeper

COLCHESTER United’s last two games sum up neatly the varied life of a professional goalkeeper.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans give their verdict on Forest Green draw

Owen Goodman was the U’s hero in their 1-0 win at Morecambe last weekend, saving Gerard Garner’s second-half penalty to help them claim victory.

Seven days later, the on-loan Crystal Palace goalkeeper was left devastated after his mistake led to Forest Green Rovers salvaging a point in a 3-3 draw, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Goodman will not need anyone to tell him that he should have saved Dominic Thompson’s low long-range effort and not allowed it to squirm out of his grasp and creep into the net.

The 20-year-old was clearly disappointed with himself at the end of the game but in what has been a testing season so far for Colchester, the young shot-stopper has shown his talent, personality and capability in his first full season of competitive league football.

Akinde sets the narrative

PRIOR to Colchester United’s game with Forest Green Rovers, it was John Akinde’s turn to tell his story as part of Danny Cowley’s attempts for his players to connect as a group and to learn more about each other.

READ MORE: Danny Cowley's verdict on U's thrilling draw with Forest Green

The experienced striker spoke to his U’s team-mates about a number of different things including his family, life and career so far, along with his studying and qualifications away from the game.

“It was a brilliant message for our younger players and he’s had a brilliant career,” said U’s boss Danny Cowley after the 3-3 draw.

Akinde certainly made a favourable impression on the pitch, too after coming on as a substitute for Colchester on the hour in their draw with Forest Green.

The 34-year-old striker, who thrived under Cowley at Lincoln City, wasted little time in providing the assist for Alistair Smith to begin the U’s comeback and had an impact in the final half hour of the match.

READ MORE: Match report as Colchester United play out draw with Forest Green

“He used his personality and his character to really impact the game,” added Cowley.

Cowley deserves praise for the timing and nature of the change; he had a number of attacking options to choose from on the bench against Forest Green but knew full well that Akinde had the ability and character to help his side turn around their fortunes.

Immediate impact

IT invariably takes time for new signings to acclimatise to their new environment.

But Colchester United’s transfer window arrivals seem to have hit the ground running, if their early performances are anything to go by.

Alistair Smith has been outstanding in each of his first two games for the U’s after joining from Lincoln City while Riley Harbottle has slotted in at the heart of their defence like he has been playing there all season.

Harry Anderson capped an impressive display by scoring a fine goal on his home debut against Forest Green, while Jayden Richardson was outstanding at right-back in the 3-3 draw and showed exactly why the Cowleys were so keen to bring him to the club, despite his lack of game time in the first half of the season at League Two leaders, Stockport County.

READ MORE: Recap as Colchester United draw with Forest Green Rovers

With Conor Wilkinson making an impact coming off the bench since his arrival from Motherwell, the early signs bode well for Colchester and their new recruits for the remaining 16 games of the season and potentially beyond.