A STOPPAGE-TIME equaliser from substitute Beryly Lubala on his Colchester United debut rescued a point for the hosts in a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United.

Lubala headed in Cameron Coxe's cross into the area in the fifth minute of time added on to salvage a point for the U's, after it looked as though they were heading to defeat following Wes McDonald's first-half strike for the visitors.

Colchester made three changes to their side for the game against Hartlepool.

Deadline day signings Matty Longstaff and Kwesi Appiah were both handed their U’s debuts, while Al-Amin Kazeem was recalled at left-back.

Freddie Sears and Frank Nouble were omitted from the starting line-up and were on the bench, while Ryan Clampin dropped out of the 18.

Appiah led the attack for Colchester, with Longstaff in a left-sided role as part of a three which also included Noah Chilvers and Alex Newby.

Colchester struggled to create goalscoring opportunities in a fragmented first half.

Hartlepool looked the more attacking force in the opening 45 minutes and came close to taking a 17th-minute lead when substitute Mohamed Sylla fired over the bar, after the visitors had played a one-two on the edge of the U's area.

Colchester did threaten the Pools goal in the 27th minute when new boy Longstaff clipped a shot wide of the target from close range, after Kazeem had delivered a cross into his path.

But two minutes later, the U’s were behind.

Wes McDonald swept home a shot from close range in the 29th minute for Pools, after Reghan Tumilty had escaped the U's defence and delivered into his path.

Sears was sent on for Cole Skuse soon after but it was the visitors who looked the more likely side to net, before the break.

Tom Crawford headed over from McDonald's inswinging free-kick into the box while Jack Hamilton fired wide of the near post, after Mouhamed Niang did brilliantly to create the chance, as Pools went in at the break ahead.

Colchester made another change at the break, sending on new signing Beryly Lubala for Marley Marshall Miranda, in a bid to force an equaliser.

Lubala immediately got involved in the action and almost created a leveller for the U's when he set up Longstaff in the area, only for his fellow debutant's cross to be cleared in the six-yard box.

But it was better from the hosts in the early stages of the second half and they again came close to equalising when Appiah was just unable to connect with Tom Dallison's flick-on, from Noah Chilvers' free-kick into the box.

Colchester knocked on the door and dominated the possession in the second period and they felt they should have had a penalty with ten minutes remaining when substitute Frank Nouble tumbled under Ewan Murray's challenge in the area, only for referee Thomas Parsons to wave away their appeals.

Substitute Cameron Coxe headed straight at Ben Killip as the clock ticked down but at the other end, Jake Hastie screwed a shot wastefully wide for Pools after Clarke Odour had run at the Colchester defence.

But just when it looked as though the U's were heading for defeat, Lubala headed home to claim a point for his side.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: O’Hara, Tchamadeu (sub Coxe, 86), Chambers, Dallison, Kazeem, Marshall Miranda (sub Lubala, 46), Skuse (sub Sears, 30), Longstaff, Newby (sub Chesters, 68), Chilvers, Appiah (sub Nouble, 68).

Subs (not used): Eastman, Hornby.

Hartlepool United: Killip, Niang, Murray, Featherstone (sub Sylla, 13), McDonald (sub Shelton, 74), Paterson, Hamilton (sub Oduor, 65), Crawford (sub Hastie, 74), Menayese, Lacey, Tumilty.

Subs (not used): Letheren, Ferguson, Grey.

Referee: Thomas Parsons.

Bookings: Colchester: Miranda (foul, 8), Longstaff (foul, 71). Hartlepool: Tumilty (unsporting behaviour, 54), Crawford (foul, 72), Paterson (unsporting behaviour, 83).

Goals: Colchester: Lubala (90). Hartlepool: McDonald (29).

Attendance: 2,983 (178 Hartlepool fans).