Cardiff City's U21 side fought back to earn a point against the U's on Friday afternoon.
With the visitors ahead at the break thanks to a goal from a penalty-kick, City worked to find a leveller throughout the second half, getting the breakthrough with five minutes of play left as substitute Tanatswa Nyakuhwa headed home from a Morgan Wigley cross.
Within the opening minutes, City had a penalty call waved away by the referee, as Trey George was brought down inside the area. The forward, who consistently threatened with the ball at his feet, would later have the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesman's flag to deny his efforts.
At the other end, the visitors took the lead against the run of play as they were awarded a penalty for a foul inside the City area, Stepping up to take it, Oscar Thorn sent Joe Thomas the wrong way, putting his side ahead.
While City held a majority of possession in the first half, they weren't quite able to get on the scoresheet, with Luey Giles later forcing a good save over the crossbar as he struck from 20 yards out.
With big chances limited following the interval, City's biggest chance proved the equaliser, five minutes from full time.
Dakarai Mafico - who had impressed throughout in midfield - picked out Wigley with a delicate throughball into the area. The forward chose to cross from the left with the outside of his right boot, hoisting the ball across the face of goal at speed.
Matching the cross' trajectory, the onrushing Nyakuhwa met the ball perfectly to power home off his headed effort, levelling the score deservedly for the young Bluebirds.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1-1 COLCHESTER UNITED
Speaking following the final whistle, Darren Purse reflected on a busy week for the young Bluebirds:
“It was a frustrating match for us to draw," he began. "But there are reasons for it. In the build-up you can’t do too much as you don’t know what players you’ll have from one game to the next, but on the flipside of that, if you play in the Championship, you’re playing Saturday-Tuesday week in, week out, which is what we’re trying to prepare these boys for.
"Decision making on the pitch is a key factor for these players to consider when it comes to how far they want to go in the game, and many times today it wasn't where it needs to be, both on and off the ball.
“You’ve got to be able to adapt and be ready to go from the off. Yes, it’s tough, but that’s the reality that we’re working to get these boys ready for. The best thing about football is that you have always got another game coming up, and another opportunity on Tuesday (February 20th) to show how good they are.”
Cardiff City: Thomas, Semenyo, Giles (Edwards 75'), Mafico, Lawlor, Cook, Wigley, Perrett (Antwi 46’), George (Nyakuhwa 46’), Kenniford, Johnson. Subs: Armstrong, Talbot.
Colchester United: Collins, Akor, Aman, Lowe, Edwards, Lamb, Sandah, Jolliffe, Connolly, Thorn, Mupomba. Subs: Marcel-Dilaver, Green, Chamberlain.