SAMMIE DENIES STAGS TOP SPOT
SAMMIE Szmodics’ 95th-minute equaliser denied Mansfield Town the chance to go top as Colchester stole a late draw at the One Call Stadium.
Home sub Craig Davies had bagged a superb 81st-minute goal, worthy of winning any game, but Stags failed to hold on at the death.
The visitors had defended magnificently against a rampant Stags side that had scored 11 goals in their three previous games.
There was no sign of the second-half drama to come after a dour first half only produced one real chance.
After 18 minutes from their first corner, Colchester tested keeper Conrad Logan as Brennan Dickenson floated the ball to the far post where Luke Prosser’s firm header was turned away by Logan.
Mansfield dominated the second half, but United stood firm until Davies had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and smashed the rebound leftfooted past a helpless Dillon Barnes.
That looked to be enough until Ryan Jackson hurled in a long throw from the right and Szmodics managed to edge the ball home.
“It cut right through the heart when you look at our dominance in the game,” said Stags manager David Flitcroft.
“We patiently broke them down in the first half – too patiently. In the second half we forced issues and were more purposeful.
“I told them afterwards, whether it’s five or seven minutes that goes up at the end of a game, embrace that time. You’re 1-0 up and you have something to hang on to and protect.
“That’s the spirit I want to foster, but we let it slip.
“Clean sheets are the holy grail and that’s what you win titles with. But we did not protect Craig Davies’ wonder goal that should have earned three points.
“We haven’t defended our box well enough and a long throw has almost gone straight in. It’s cost us three well-earned points and we would have been top of the league.”
United boss John McGreal said it would have been hard on his side if they had lost. “We all thought it was going to end up as a 0-0. But we’ll take a 1-1,” he said.
“This was a very good point, as Mansfield are one of the big clubs of this division. We knew they had scored six goals on Tuesday night and would come out fast, but I think we smothered them well.
“We thought about taking Sammy off as he looked tired, but he can get you a goal out of nothing so we decided to keep him on. This was another tough away game ticked off.”
MANSFIELD: Logan 7, White 6, Pearce 9 , Sweeney 7, Hamilton 7, MacDonald 6, Mellis 7 (Bishop 77, 6), Benning 7, Walker 7, Khan 7 (Rose 77, 6) Subs: Davies 7 (Butcher 59, 6); Subs not used: Atkinson, Olejnik, Sterling-James, Gibbens
COLCHESTER: D Barnes 6, Jackson 6, Kent 6, Prosser 6, Vincent-Young 7 (Eastman 86, 5), Lapslie 5, Pell 6, Senior 7 (Norris 72, 6), Szmodics 7, Dickenson 7, Nouble 6 (Mandron 87, 5) Subs not used: Comley, Wright, Ross, Collins