0-0
First Half
Colchester kicked off the game on a very chilly night, but what was to be a great performance by the Rovers.
A cross in from the Rovers right was scrambled away from Guy's feet and Coppinger then Guy had a fine run down the inside left channel to the byline but his low cross for Price was intercepted by Davison, the U's keeper. All this in the first 8 minutes before the visitors raised the siege and in a quick break forced a corner, which was cleared for the home team to go up the field and win themselves a corner from which the ball came out to Coppinger but his shot was blocked and blocked again by a desperate defence. The Rovers were playing good football at a fair old pace but the visitors had their goal well protected with a strong defensive screen. An isolated raid by Colchester after 19 minutes gave Duguid a chance but he sliced high and wide from 16 yards. Minutes later, Neil Roberts had a couple of cracks at goal from 20 yards, one was just wide but the second one was goalbound but took a slight deflection to send it inches past the wrong side of a post for a corner. Coppinger, on the left, was flying and getting plenty of the ball but a couple of his shots from outside of the area were blocked by the U's defenders. Continuing to have the better of the play up to the break, the home team were foiled by Davison again cutting out a low cross from Mulligan, who put a 25 yard free kick just wide on 45 minutes after Neil Roberts had been brought down by Chilvers when looking likely to go through on goal. Chilvers got a yellow card for his pains. The interval arrived with a goalless scoreline but the Rovers display far exceeded Saturday's tepid effort and was well received by the fans.
Second Half
The Rovers started the second half as they had left the first period - on the attack. Good link up play on the right by Mulligan, Thornton and Price caused considerable problems for the U's defence. Thornton got a shot in that caught Davison in two minds, should he catch it or kick it. He kicked it but almost missed it with a gaping goal behind him.
As the hour mark came up, Colchester brought Blayney into the game by having him save a header from Duguid. Thornton replied for the Rovers with a 30 yarder straight into Davison's arms. On 63 minutes, a fantastic through ball from Thornton found Neil Roberts but he was falling under the tackle as he touched it goalwards and Davison collected easily.. The U's began to get more into the game and troubled Blayney again but the referee ruled a foul on the keeper.
Back came the Rovers, with a good build up on the left by Coppinger to Thornton, through for Guy to get to the byline. His cross was palmed away by Davison but there were no red and white shirts in a position to follow up. A minute later Guy, who had run his heart out all night, chased another ball on the right to get a shot in from 20 yards but Davison was there again to save.
The Rovers changed their strikers with ten minutes to go, giving a debut to Alun Armstrong. Both Neil Roberts and Guy had worked hard but showed no reward for their endeavours.
Continuing to the end the Rovers tried hard for a winner but couldn't manage it. The final whistle came on a good, entertaining game with the Rovers providing a hardworking display, with a lot of good football played. The defence was sound, the midfield bossed the game and the forwards tried hard. Colchester will wend their way back to East Anglia very thankful for getting a point that keeps them in the play-off positions.