KYREECE Lisbie came off the bench to secure Colchester United a point in their 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.
Lisbie headed home Arthur Read's free-kick at the far post to earn the U's a point at the JobServe Community Stadium, after Josh March had given Alex a first-half lead.
Colchester pressed hard for a winner after equalising but could not find a way past keeper Tom Booth, as they played out a second successive 1-1 draw in League Two.
Colchester boss Danny Cowley kept the same starting line-up to the one that started against Barnet in League Two, seven days later.
Deadline-day signing Micah Mbick was on the bench as was Harvey Araujo, who came in on loan from Fulham.
Colchester started well and went close in the fourth minute when Arthur Read's low shot from Teddy Bishop's short free-kick flew straight at keeper Tom Booth.
Defences were mostly on top for the majority of the first half and although the U’s had more possession, they did not create many clearcut chances.
Crewe grew into the game as the first half progressed and U’s skipper Tom Flanagan made a timely block in the area to deny Max Sanders what looked like a free shot on goal from close range, ten minutes before half-time.
It was a warning to the U’s and four minutes later, Crewe were ahead.
Josh March was picked out by Reece Hutchinson and after getting the better of Rob Hunt, he fired low and hard past U’s goalkeeper Matt Macey and inside the near post.
Cowley was unhappy with the way that possession was lost in the lead up to goal but Colchester came close to an immediate equaliser when Bishop's strike from Jack Payne's short free-kick was heading into the top corner from 20 yards, before Booth leapt to his right to push the ball away.
The U’s suffered a further blow just before the break when Flanagan limped off injured and was replaced by Araujo and Colchester started the second half with plenty of attacking intent, without really hurting their visitors.
Crewe substitute Jack Powell's curled free-kick whistled inches past the far corner from the edge of the area on the hour and March fired into the side netting off balance from a difficult angle, after the U's had failed to properly deal with a ball to the far post.
Danny Cowley made a double change just after the hour, sending on Kyreece Lisbie and Jaden Williams.
And the changes paid almost immediate dividends as Lisbie levelled for Colchester in the 66th minute when he headed home at the far post from Read's set-piece.
Colchester missed a gilt-edged chance to take the lead five minutes later when Lisbie was sent through on goal by Williams' brilliant slide pass but with only Booth to beat, sliced his shot wide of the near post and the chance went begging.
Substitute Araujo's low shot was pushed away by Booth as Colchester pushed and Mbick was sent on for his debut, before Williams was denied by Booth from close range as Colchester pressed.
Mbick shot tamely at Booth after being sent through by Read's defence-splitting pass and Powell was also denied by the Crewe keeper but the points were shared.
MATCH STATS: Colchester United: Macey, Hunt, Tucker, Flanagan (sub Araujo, 45), Powell, Bishop (sub Gape, 77), Read, Anderson (sub Lisbie, 62), Edwards, Payne (sub Williams, 62), Tovide (sub Mbick, 77).
Substitutes (not used): Vincent-Young, Smith.
Crewe Alexandra: Booth, Billington, Hutchinson, Demetriou, Sanders, Golding, Connolly (sub Powell, 59), Lunt (sub Tezgel, 59), March (sub March, 90), O’Reilly (sub Moult, 85), Tezgel (sub Rankine, 58).
Substitutes (not used): Finney, Waller.
Referee: Greg Rollason.
Goals: Colchester: Lisbie (66). Crewe: March (39).
Bookings: Colchester: Hunt (foul, 59), Tucker (foul, 90). Crewe: Golding (foul, 18), O’Reilly (foul (20), Hutchinson (foul, 63), Connolly (foul, 90).
Sending off: None.
Attendance: 4,572 (211 Crewe fans).
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