Colchester 1-1 Hartlepool

Michael Nelson's fourth goal of the season handed Hartlepool a well-earned draw away at Colchester.

Colchester keeper Jimmy Walker denied Sam Collins, but the U's responded when Mark Yeates' 30-yard effort forced Arran Lee-Barrett to tip the ball over.

A minute before half-time the hosts went ahead, Scott Vernon firing home after an Anthony Wordsworth flick-on.

Simon Hackney dragged wide but Nelson earned the visitors a point when he rose to head in Gary Liddle's corner.

Colchester: Walker, Maybury, Baldwin, Reid, Tierney, Gobern (Gillespie 64), Izzet, Wordsworth, Hackney (Perkins 90), Yeates, Vernon (Platt 73).
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Coyne.

Booked: Maybury.

Goals: Vernon 45.

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Jones (Foley 67), Clark, Liddle, Monkhouse, Mackay, Guy.
Subs Not Used: Cook, Henderson, Rowell, Tait.

Booked: Monkhouse, Jones, Clark, Nelson.

Goals: Nelson 71.

Att: 5,158.

Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).