STEVE Evans bemoaned his Stevenage side's shortage of quality in the final third after they were held to a 1-1 draw with Colchester United.

Former U's midfielder Alex Gilbey rescued a point for promotion-chasing Boro with a goal just after the break, after Connor Hall had given the visitors an 18th-minute lead.

Evans felt Stevenage should have had a winner in stoppage-time when Jake Turner netted but the referee penalised Jordan Roberts for a foul on U's goalkeeper, Kieran O'Hara.

The spoils were shared and it was a result that did not really help either side, in their quest for points to boost their respective challenges at opposite ends of the League Two table.

Evans said: "We’re obviously disappointed.

Gazette:

"We started really well and we should score with all the play that we had, all the dominance.

"But then a sloppy touch in the middle of the park gave them a free-kick and we concede.

"And then we lost our way and it wasn’t that Colchester were better, but the game just became poor.

"We regrouped at half-time and got a great start to the second half but for me, we just have to do better when we’re in great areas.

"We need a lot better quality in the final third.

"But sometimes we need a break and the goalkeeper comes and drops it.

"I've just watched it, he comes and drops it and we tap it in but the referee says that it’s a foul.

Gazette:

"It's been hard but we’ll freshen it up as best we can and go to Hartlepool, who had a great result today, and we’ll see if we can come back still competing for the top three.

"We spoke about calmness like we had at Northampton, even though there we were chasing the game.

"Goals change games and you can see the whole ground were in shock when it went in but we should defend it much better.

"Jordan Roberts should score as well at the end. It's a simple header for Jordan and he gets all wrong."

Stevenage will assess the fitness of former Colchester striker Luke Norris, who was forced off with an ankle injury after coming on as a second-half substitute for the hosts.

Evans added: "I've never had a season where we're getting things thrown against us like we are.

"It’s like gale force winds with the goalkeepers and Luke Norris today and others."