Gazette sports writer Jon Waldron looks back on an entertaining game, as the spoils were shared at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Frustration is familiar
COLCHESTER United’s players left the pitch to applause after their game with Bromley.
It showed U’s fans recognised all of the good things they produced in the 1-1 draw.
Nevertheless, there was an over-riding feeling of post-match frustration felt by players, staff and supporters alike, an emotion that has become pretty familiar over the last three games.
Owura Edwards’ second-half equaliser was the minimum that Colchester deserved but for all of their endeavour and build-up play, they will be disappointed that it was all they had to show for their efforts.
As Danny Cowley said afterwards, the fact that they were left chasing the game after conceding an avoidable goal in the first half left them with a task that was perhaps more difficult than it should have been.
The Cowleys will be disappointed with a goal return of two from the last three matches but it is still early days for this new-look U’s side and the hope is that when the likes of Lyle Taylor and Anthony Scully are fully match fit and playing regularly, the goals will start to flow.
Electric Edwards
THE season is still in its infancy but Owura Edwards is already showing how effective he is, coming off the bench.
The sight of seeing the former Bristol City coming on in the second half must be a daunting one for any League Two right-back and the winger is showing the kind of form that U’s fans witnessed in his first spell at the club on loan, under Wayne Brown.
Edwards was in the right place at the right time to convert Jack Payne’s deep cross and earn Colchester a share of the spoils, against Bromley.
He is a talented, skilful player who had his injury problems last season but is showing evidence of the form that prompted Colchester to bring him back on a permanent basis, last season.
Edwards gets the crowd on the feet and as Danny Cowley says, brings an element of electricity to the team.
With all of the attacking options he had on the bench for the Bromley game, it was telling that the U’s boss turned first to Edwards and it took just six minutes to pay dividends, with his equaliser.
Paying the penalty
DANNY and Nicky Cowley could not hide their exasperation with the officiating at times during Colchester United’s draw with Bromley.
A wisecrack in the West Stand joked the fourth official ended up running the line in the second half as he felt it would be easier than mediating between the two benches, who at times were united in their frustration at some of the decision making.
In terms of general refereeing performances, it’s not been a good start to the season for the U’s.
Danny Cowley described referee Sam Purkiss’s decisions to award Bromley a first-half penalty for a foul by Ellis Iandolo on Nyamabu Dinanga as soft but probably more galling was the fact that the U’s own spot-kick claims in the second half were waved away.
Both Owura Edwards and Tom Hopper had legitimate claims for penalties rejected and sadly, it is a familiar tale for Colchester so far in this campaign.
Decisions in general are not going their way and it does seem like they aren’t getting the rub of the green, with refereeing decisions.
Perfect Payne
JACK Payne produced arguably his best performance for Colchester so far, against Bromley.
Even Bromley boss Andy Woodman was afterwards full of praise for the playmaker, who showed just why Colchester were so keen to sign him this summer with an excellent all-round display.
Payne was at the heart of everything the U’s did, playing with so much energy and drive.
He kept the tempo high in all of Colchester’s attacking play and it came as no surprise that he provided the assist for Owura Edwards’ second-half equaliser.
Payne has shown earlier in his career that he is more than capable of playing at a higher level and he has the potential to be the driving force for Danny Cowley’s new-look side.
Fan power
NEARLY 5,000 were at the JobServe Community Stadium for Colchester United’s draw with Bromley, their biggest league crowd of the season so far.
Attendances have been on the up at the U’s since the Cowleys’ arrival and that is reflected by the positive feeling within the ground, these days.
The BWA have also done a fantastic job in improving the atmosphere within the ground on matchday and the South Stand is a splendid sight, both prior to the game with the many flags and banners on show and during it, when the support is unrelenting.
The general feeling and atmosphere at the JobServe Community Stadium this season is much improved – what would it be like if the U’s become a promotion-chasing side?
Colchester fans are crying out for a team that they can be proud of, after four successive seasons of struggle and the Cowleys are doing their best to deliver that.
It may take a little time given the amount of transition that has taken place over the summer months but with everyone on board, there are signs of encouragement that progress is being made both on and off the pitch.