COLCHESTER United had to be content with a point this afternoon after playing out a 1-1 draw with play-off chasing Walsall at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The U's were left to rue Noah Chilvers' second-half penalty being saved by goalkeeper Jackson Smith after Cameron McGeehan had cancelled out Taylor Allen's first-half opener for the Saddlers.

It was Colchester's fourth successive home draw under the Cowleys.

Colchester made four changes to their starting line-up, with Jay Mingi, John Akinde, Bradley Ihionvien and Jayden Fevrier recalled in place of Mandela Egbo, Tom Hopper, Jayden Richardson and Alistair Smith.

Mingi lined up as one of three central defenders, as the U’s played with wing-backs.

The U’s were looking for a bright start but it was the visitors who registered the game’s first meaningful effort in the tenth minute when Jack Earing blasted over the bar from a good position, after being fed well by Josh Gordon in the area.

Cameron McGeehan’s downward header was deflected over for a corner for Colchester but the visitors looked the more dangerous and midway through the first half, Allen's fierce shot had to be parried away by goalkeeper Owen Goodman at his near post for a corner.

Tom Dallison nodded Gordon's header off the line before Walsall took the lead in the 37th minute when Allen finished clinically with a low strike into the far corner, from Gordon’s pass after some good build-up play.

It was a blow for Colchester but they responded well to the setback and were almost level just before the break when McGeehan's low strike was pushed away well by goalkeeper Jackson Smith, after Ihionvien and Akinde had combined well to carve out the chance.

The U’s went in trailing at half-time but it took them less than three minutes to equalise, after the interval.

McGeehan finished emphatically into the centre of the net in the 48th minute, after Ihionvien's cross had only been partially cleared.

Colchester had momentum and soon after, Ihionvien was denied by Smith after Chilvers had done brilliantly to pick him out in the area.

The U’s then squandered a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 54th minute when Chilvers’ penalty was saved by Smith, following Earing’s foul on Harry Anderson in the area.

Colchester’s fans immediately sung Chilvers’ name as they tried to get behind their team and the U's continued to look for a vital winner, with boss Danny Cowley sending on Hopper and Smith in a bid to find one.

Goodman made a crucial save to deny substitute Ross Tierney after he was through on goal while at the other end, Ihionvien could only shoot weakly at Smith as both sides went for a winner.

Goodman thwarted both Earing and substitute Ross Tierney before the end, as the spoils were shared.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Goodman, Hall, Dallison, Fevrier, Anderson (sub Edwards, 74), Mingi, Chilvers (sub Smith, 68), Read, McGeehan, Ihionvien, Akinde (sub Hopper, 69).

Subs (not used): Richardson, Jay, Wilkinson, Hornby.

Walsall: Smith, Okagbue, B Gordon, Foulkes, Comley, Earing, J Gordon, Hutchinson (sub James-Taylor 73), Allen, Faal (sub Tierney, 73), Adegboyega.

Subs (not used): Riley, Menayese, Stirk, Johnson, Evans.

Goals: Colchester: McGeehan (48). Walsall: Allen (37).

Bookings: Colchester: McGeehan (foul, 86). Walsall: Comley (foul, 90).

Referee: David Rock.

Attendance: 3,704 (270 Walsall fans).