Oldham teenager Ryan Brooke struck with two minutes remaining to complete a fine two-goal comeback for the hosts against the 10 men of Colchester.
The high-flying U's looked to be cruising to victory after David Fox's drilled opener and Kayode Odejayi headed in Anthony Wordsworth's cross.
But Marc Tierney's dismissal for two bookings proved the turning point.
First Chris Taylor picked himself up from Magnus Okuonghae's foul to score a penalty and then Brooke headed home.
Colchester United manager, Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Essex:
"I think in every season there are defining moments that improve you for later on and and I think we've done really well at some things, but we lost our discipline and we had a player sent off.
"But we still got a point and results like this are disappointing, because obviously you go two up, but you move on."
90:00+4:24 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+3:10 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Danny Whitaker from the right by-line, clearance made by Kemal Izzet.
90:00+2:50 Corner from left by-line taken by Danny Whitaker.
90:00+0:56 Keigan Parker takes the direct free kick.
90:00+0:56 Booking The referee books John White for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+0:47 Keigan Parker fouled by John White, the ref awards a free kick.
89:49 Danny Whitaker has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.
88:46 Danny Whitaker takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
87:16 Assist by Keigan Parker.
87:16 GOAL - Ryan Brooke:Oldham 2 - 2 Colchester Ryan Brooke finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Oldham 2-2 Colchester.
84:38 Outswinging corner taken by Keigan Parker from the right by-line, Chris Taylor is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.
81:43 Ryan Brooke has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
80:57 Substitution Deane Smalley goes off and Keigan Parker comes on.
80:32 Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Danny Whitaker goes wide of the left-hand post.
79:23 Substitution Clive Platt leaves the field to be replaced by Paul Reid.
78:26 Corner from the right by-line taken by Danny Whitaker, clearance by Magnus Okuonghae.
76:17 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Danny Whitaker, clearance made by Ben Williams.
76:17 Substitution Lee Hills goes off and Ryan Brooke comes on.
73:56 Philip Ifil challenges Joe Colbeck unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Colbeck restarts play with the free kick.
71:40 Effort from outside the box by Joe Colbeck goes wide right of the target.
71:18 Corner taken right-footed by Danny Whitaker.
70:26 The official flags Lee Hills offside. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.
69:20 Andy Holdsworth is caught offside. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
68:19 Effort from just outside the area by Joe Colbeck goes over the bar.
66:54 Substitution Kemal Izzet joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Fox.
65:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Wordsworth by Alex Marrow. Anthony Wordsworth crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Andy Holdsworth manages to make a clearance.
63:19 Corner taken by Danny Whitaker from the right by-line, Joe Colbeck takes a shot.
62:13 GOAL - Chris Taylor:Oldham 1 - 2 Colchester Placed penalty scored by Chris Taylor. Oldham 1-2 Colchester.
61:22 David Fox challenges Chris Taylor unfairly and gives away a Penalty.
58:55 Lee Hills takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a comfortable save.
58:19 Corner taken by Danny Whitaker from the right by-line, clearance made by Danny Batth.
55:17 The free kick is swung in left-footed by Lee Hills, clearance made by Clive Platt.
55:17 Substitution Kevin Lisbie goes off and Philip Ifil comes on.
55:17 Sent off Marc Tierney is sent off by the referee.
54:49 Anthony Wordsworth challenges Deane Smalley unfairly and gives away a free kick.
54:10 Effort from inside the area by Joe Colbeck misses to the left of the target.
52:03 The official flags Anthony Wordsworth offside. Andy Holdsworth takes the free kick.
51:04 John White restarts play with the free kick.
51:04 Booking Joe Colbeck is cautioned.
50:57 Kevin Lisbie fouled by Joe Colbeck, the ref awards a free kick.
49:08 Assist on the goal came from Anthony Wordsworth.
49:08 GOAL - Kayode Odejayi:Oldham 0 - 2 Colchester Kayode Odejayi scores a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Oldham 0-2 Colchester.
Correction - 48:31 Kevin Lisbie fouled by Joe Colbeck, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is crossed by Anthony Wordsworth,
48:31 Unfair challenge on Kevin Lisbie by Joe Colbeck results in a .
47:41 Effort from outside the penalty area by Alex Marrow goes wide left of the goal.
46:39 Sean Gregan fouled by Clive Platt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Darryl Flahavan.
45:59 Joe Colbeck gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Lisbie. David Fox delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Reuben Hazell manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+1:06 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+0:20 Danny Whitaker takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a comfortable save.
42:11 Danny Whitaker takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Danny Batth.
41:49 Outswinging corner taken by Danny Whitaker from the right by-line, Anthony Wordsworth manages to make a clearance.
40:59 Lee Hills fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Marc Tierney.
40:59 Booking Marc Tierney is given a yellow card.
40:52 Deane Smalley fouled by Marc Tierney, the ref awards a free kick.
38:07 Kayode Odejayi challenges Andy Holdsworth unfairly and gives away a free kick. Reuben Hazell takes the direct free kick.
33:00 Alex Marrow is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Magnus Okuonghae.
29:57 Header by Chris Taylor from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
28:46 Nick Blackman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc Tierney. Magnus Okuonghae restarts play with the free kick.
27:30 Effort on goal by Joe Colbeck from a long way out goes over the bar.
27:03 Outswinging corner taken by Danny Whitaker from the right by-line, save by Ben Williams.
26:06 Free kick awarded for a foul by Magnus Okuonghae on Chris Taylor. Danny Whitaker takes the direct free kick.
24:58 Nick Blackman takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.
23:03 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Fox, Close range header by Kayode Odejayi misses to the right of the target.
21:16 Andy Holdsworth concedes a free kick for a foul on John-Joe O'Toole. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.
18:12 Deane Smalley has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
16:15 Header by John-Joe O'Toole from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
15:49 Anthony Wordsworth crosses the ball, clearance made by Alex Marrow.
15:32 Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line.
14:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Whitaker on John-Joe O'Toole. Danny Batth takes the direct free kick.
13:10 Marc Tierney handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Nick Blackman, Danny Whitaker delivers the ball.
11:30 GOAL - David Fox:Oldham 0 - 1 Colchester David Fox fires in a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Oldham 0-1 Colchester.
11:12 David Fox takes a short corner.
10:55 John-Joe O'Toole takes a shot. Blocked by Alex Marrow.
9:16 Long distance effort from Nick Blackman misses to the left of the goal.
8:35 Header from close range by Kevin Lisbie misses to the right of the target.
4:26 Deane Smalley is caught offside. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
4:02 Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line, Joe Colbeck makes a clearance.
3:49 Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Save by Darryl Flahavan.
3:25 Danny Whitaker takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Marc Tierney.
3:01 Joe Colbeck takes a shot. Magnus Okuonghae gets a block in.
2:17 Danny Whitaker takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Magnus Okuonghae.
0:47 Corner taken left-footed by Anthony Wordsworth, Header from deep inside the penalty area by John-Joe O'Toole goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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