Huddersfield Town 2 Colchester United 2

Last updated : 03 March 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Skipper Dean Hammond chipped in a stoppage time equaliser to keep Colchester's faint play-off hopes alive following a storming fight back from Huddersfield.

Hammond, who put United ahead with a first-half penalty, struck a fine effort from the edge of the box which left Town keeper Alex Smithies rooted to the spot.

The home side created little in a tepid first half but picked up the pace after the break and equalised when Anthony Pilkington tucked away the rebound when keeper Mark Cousins parried a shot from Lukas Jutkiewicz on 51 minutes.

Winger Gary Roberts then smashed in a stunning effort from an acute angle as Town poured on the pressure during a much livelier second period.

Substitute Ian Craney thrashed a long distance shot off the bar on 66 minutes and when the ball came back to him he fed Roberts for a drive into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Huddersfield could have gone in front on 59 minutes when Craney curled in a free-kick which hit the side-netting and after Hammond had equalised in stoppage time, United could have snatched a dramatic winner.

Referee Andy Woolmer added six minutes of injury time and in the 93rd minute of the match, substitute Steven Gillespie fired in a powerful shot which Smithies did well to turn round the post for a corner.

A flurry of bookings followed in the second half for a series of rough challenges as the game heated up.

Huddersfield's Chris Lucketti and Hammond were among those to go in the book.

Town had been trailing 1-0 at the break following Hammond's penalty - given for a hand ball against Jim Goodwin - and Hammond coolly converted.

But Paul Lambert's side showed great character to earn a point after falling behind and deserved a share of the spoils.