COLCHESTER United battled to a creditable 1-1 draw at high-flying Stevenage this afternoon after Alex Gilbey's equaliser against his old club denied the visitors a precious victory.

The U's had led through Connor Hall's first-half opener but Gilbey struck just after half-time, to ensure the spoils were shared, at The Lamex Stadium.

The draw, Colchester's fourth in a row, leaves Ben Garner's side a point above the League Two relegation zone with six games to go.

Colchester boss Ben Garner made two changes to his side for the game at Stevenage.

Freddie Sears made his first start in five months and Ossama Ashley was also recalled to the starting line-up, with Matt Jay and Samson Tovide dropping to the bench.

Stevenage went close in the fourth minute when Colchester goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara made a fine save to tip over Danny Rose’s header, following Max Clark’s ball into the box.

And O’Hara was forced into action again two minutes later to make another good stop at his near post to keep out Carl Piergianni’s header, after a free-kick had been delivered into the U’s penalty area.

But Colchester took the lead in the 18th minute, through their first effort on goal.

Connor Hall hooked home a loose ball from close range, after Stevenage had failed to deal with Noah Chilvers’ delivery into the box.

Colchester contained their high-flying hosts relatively comfortably after that.

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And the U’s had a chance to extend their advantage in the 37th minute when Sears spotted Stevenage keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala off his line and tried a lob after latching onto Junior Tchamadeu's long pass but his effort was weak and the chance went begging.

Colchester went in at the break ahead and made a change at half-time, with Tovide on for Sears in attack.

But Stevenage needed less than two minutes to get back on level terms.

Jordan Roberts drove towards the U's goal and picked out former Colchester midfielder Alex Gilbey, whose shot from a tight angle found its way past O'Hara and into the net.

The U's responded well to the setback and almost restored their lead just after the hour when captain Luke Chambers' far-post header was brilliantly kept out by goalkeeper Lo-Tutala, after Ashley had delivered a cross into the box.

But Stevenage went close to going ahead soon after when substitute Luke Norris drove a first-time shot wide from close range, after Roberts had run at the Colchester defence.

The hosts began to dominate as the second half wore on and O'Hara had to parry away Gilbey's fierce shot from the edge of the area, as the U's were forced to defend.

Seven minutes of stoppage-time were added at the end, but the spoils were shared.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: O'Hara, Chambers, Kelleher, Hall, Tchamadeu, Wood, Ashley, Read (sub Miranda, 74), Chilvers, Sears (sub Tovide, 46), Hopper (sub Akinde, 85).

Subs (not used): Greenidge, Fevrier, Jay, Smith.

Stevenage: Lo-Tutala, James-Wildin, Clark, Piergianni, Sweeney, Roberts, Vancooten (sub Bostwick, 87), Gilbey, Forster-Caskey (sub Horgan, 87), Rose, Reid (sub Norris, 59; sub Taylor, 82)).

Subs (not used): Przybek, Smith, Tomkinson.

Referee: James Oldham.

Bookings: Colchester: Read (foul, 10). Stevenage: Vancooten (unsporting behaviour, 80), James-Wildin (foul, 82), Rose (unsporting behaviour, 90).

Goals: Colchester: Hall (18). Stevenage: Gilbey (47).

Attendance: 4,763 (624 U's fans).