Colchester United drew with Bradford City in League Two

THE JobServe Community Stadium is not the easiest of grounds to get away from, come the final whistle.

But Colchester United supporters know by now that it’s probably not a good idea to leave a few minutes early to beat the traffic, as tempting as it might be.

It was another late, late show for Danny Cowley’s side on Saturday, when Jamie McDonnell struck in the ninth minute of stoppage time to rescue the hosts a point against Bradford City.

McDonnell’s header was the latest goal to be scored in League Two. this season.

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It is also the latest since New Year’s Day, when Davis Keillor-Dunn netted for Mansfield Town at Stockport County in the 102nd minute.

Colchester have now scored four 90+ minute goals this season and have done so in successive league games, illustrating once again Danny Cowley’s mantra that you can’t beat the man who never gives up.

THERE was a sweet irony in the fact that Colchester United’s equaliser came in the ninth minute of time added on, against Bradford City.

From the moment the Bantams had taken the lead through Andy Cook’s clinical 30th minute strike, they were happy to slow the game down and break up proceedings as much as possible, with the intention of preserving their precious lead.

It made for frustrating viewing from a Colchester point of view and U’s head coach Danny Cowley wasn’t particularly happy with what he saw from the visitors, either.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“They score and from that moment onwards, they’re just time wasting and taking time out of the game and really slowed it down,” said Cowley.

But if he’s brutally honest, the U’s head coach will probably concede that his own team have adopted similar delaying tactics away from home at times and when necessary this season, in order to boost their chances of taking something from a game.

JAMIE McDonnell will always remember his first-ever professional goal.

And the on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder will have many more memorable moments in his career, if he continues to impress in the manner he is.

McDonnell was Colchester United’s man of the match against Bradford City, displaying all of his qualities in abundance; his tenacity, determination, positivity and discipline all helped him flourish.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

Scoring goals is also an important part of a midfielder’s game and the fact that the 20-year-old was in the right place at the right time from a set piece, at such a late stage of the game, not only was a sign of his mental strength but also his all-round positional awareness and focus.

Both McDonnell and his young Nottingham Forest and Northern Ireland under-21 team-mate Aaron Donnelly are proving to be excellent loan signings for the U’s, as they make their way in the professional game.

COLCHESTER United have now drawn more games than any other team in the top four divisions of English football.

“I’m sick of drawing, I’ve got to be honest,” admitted U’s boss Danny Cowley afterwards, having seen his U’s side share the spoils in eight of their 15 league games so far, this season.

“I don’t think I’ve ever drawn so many matches in my life – I had a 53 per cent win ratio when I came and we’re just drawing so much but I can’t fault the determination, the fight and the willingness to never give up.”

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A draw nearly always feels better when it comes from a losing position – and especially when you score as late to do so, as Colchester did against Bradford.

It is the second successive week that they have struck in stoppage time to claim a point and they are undoubtedly becoming harder to beat.

Now their task is to try to start turning these draws into wins and to take control of matches, rather than rely on their spirit to salvage them points.

IT was a real boost to see Owura Edwards back on the pitch again for Colchester United.

It’s probably no coincidence that the U’s have not won a league game since both Edwards and Teddy Bishop limped out of their 4-0 defeat at Walsall, at the end of September.

The duo had made a positive impact in the opening weeks of the season and Colchester have missed them both in equal measure, while they have been sidelined.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

Edwards returned on the hour mark for Colchester against Bradford City and showed the U’s what they have been missing with his positive running and trickery.

It was Edwards’ looping effort being pushed over by Bantams’ former U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker that led to the corner which resulted in Jamie McDonnell scoring their dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

It is hoped Bishop will also be in contention for the trip to Grimsby Town this weekend after returning to training and having both players back is a welcome boost for the U’s, as they bid to move away from the League Two relegation zone.