The U's bid farewell to the Championship at fellow relegated side Scunthorpe United by sharing six goals between.
Colchester United ended their stay in The Championship with an entertaining three all draw at fellow relegated side Scunthorpe United this afternoon. Kevin McLeod's brace and an acrobatic effort from Scott Vernon meant that the U's were never behind but they allowed a 3-1 lead to slip after scoring twice in a minute early in the second period.
Manager Geraint Williams made two immediate changes to the side that had lost to Stoke City last weekend with Dean Hammond and Medy Elito dropped to the bench to allow Kem Izzet and Kevin McLeod to come in to the side. He had to make a further change just before the kick-off as Chris Coyne picked up an injury just before the break. With Matt Heath replacing the injured Adam Virgo, that meant he brought in Bela Balogh to play alongside the on-loan Leeds United man. James Hammond, offered a professional contract with the U's this week, stepped up to the bench.
Colchester started brightly and took the lead after just eleven minutes. Lisbie dispossed Byrne to cross for McLeod to glance the ball home past keeper Joe Murphy for his third goal of the season. It might have been even better for the U's had Scott Vernon and Karl Duguid subsequent efforts not been cleared off the line.
However, the U's couldn't hold on to their lead after four minutes after the U's opener, Scunthorpe restored parity through Jonathon Forte who toe-poked Sparrow's cross past Gerken from close range. The half continued in an entertaining manner though neither goalkeeper was really called up on to make a save of note.
After their halftime cup of tea (do players still do such a thing?) United didn't just burst out of the blocks, they roared out of them with two goals in the opening. The first came from Scott Vernon as his overhead kick put the U's ahead. Jackson's free-kick was flicked on by Duguid to where the former Blackpool man was at his acrobatic best.
If that wasn't good the U's fans were in raptures as McLeod scored his second of the game seconds later. This time it was good U's move though the clearing header from Byrne at the far post was woeful. McLeod took a chance though and when Byrne's header came at him he steadied himself before lifting a half-volley over the Iron's goalkeeper from 25 yards.
At 3-1 the U's should have left the Championship with all three points but the game ended in a microcosm of the season as Scunthorpe were allowed to get back in to the game. First Hayes gave Gerken no chance with a shot from close range after former U's man Ben May had held off his man. Then, with ten minutes remaining an awful back header from Matt Heath gave Hayes the chance to dribble past the U's goalkeeper and put the ball in to the empty net.
There were other chances for the U's though. Lisbie fired a McLeod cross over the bar when he should have hit the target at least while substitute Medy Elito also fired over when well-placed. Finally, Lisbie - who was outstanding for the U's and if the club has any ambition to returning to the second tier of English football at the first attempt muct be retained - set up Johnnie Jackson but the ex-Spurs man failed to connect properly and the ball rolled agonisingly across the goal.
McLeod's brace came at an opportune time for the Liverpudlian winger. With contracts up at the end of the season, the player must be one of those wondering whether he will be offered terms by U's manager Geraint Williams. The he has stated that he has already made his mind up on which players he will be retaining, McLeod's brace surely can't have hurt his chances.
After scoring the opening U's goal of the season at Sheffield United back in August, Mcleod becomes the first player since Dale Tempest to be the first, and last goalscorer in the same season. Tempest, who can often be seen on SKY sports as their betting guru, opened the scoring in the 1988/9 season with the only goal of the game in a 1-0 at home to York City. He capped the season off with the third and final goal in a 3-1 at Plainmoor with John Warner and Steve Hetzke scoring before him.
Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne, Iriekpen, Butler, Williams, Forte, Cork (McCann 88), Sparrow, Morris (Winn 81), May, Hayes.
Subs Not Used: Lillis, Hobbs, Picton.
Booked: Butler.
Goals: Forte 15, Hayes 67, 82.
Colchester: Gerken, Ifil (Elito 56), Balogh, Heath, White, Duguid, Izzet, Jackson, Kevin McLeod, Lisbie, Vernon (Platt 71).
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Wordsworth, James Hammond.
Booked: Duguid.
Goals: Kevin McLeod 11, Vernon 47, Kevin McLeod 48.
Att: 5,554
Ref: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).