Colchester United vs Port Vale. Sky Bet League Two.
Weston Homes Community StadiumAttendance3,485.
Saturday 23 December 2017 20:46, UK
A Marcus Harness header earned Port Vale a deserved 1-1 draw at Colchester to continue their improved form under manager Neil Aspin.
Vale almost scored in the opening minute when Colchester goalkeeper Sam Walker denied Dave Worrall but Sammie Szmodics hooked a first-time effort just wide and then curled a shot narrowly wide soon after at the other end.
Colchester took the lead just after the half-hour mark through leading scorer Szmodics, who latched onto Tom Lapslie's fine pass and broke the offside trap before advancing into the area and poking a shot past keeper Ryan Boot.
But Vale started the second half well and Walker pushed away Antony Kay's 30-yard strike, before Lapslie nodded Nathan Smith's header off the line.
Kay's excellent header clattered the crossbar before the visitors finally levelled with 15 minutes remaining through Harness, who nodded in substitute Tyler Denton's cross from close range.
Szmodics nearly restored Colchester's lead immediately afterwards when his shot clipped the crossbar but it finished all square.
