Rochdale came from behind to secure a point on the road on Tuesday night, with a 1-1 draw with Colchester United.
The home side opened the scoring at the JobServe Community Stadium thanks to a moment of brilliance from Alan Judge eight minutes into the second half, but Conor Grant levelled the scoring late on to ensure the points were shared.
There was one change to starting eleven from Saturday's game at Oldham, as Liam Kelly came in for Stephen Dooley. There was a place on the bench for January signing Luke Charman, whose suspension, accrued at his previous club, had been spent, meaning he could be included in a matchday squad for the first time.
The first half was a fairly quiet affair, although the home side did have a couple of opportunities to break the deadlock.
With 20 minutes on the clock, John Akinde dispossessed Jeriel Dorsett and got in on goal but saw his effort from a tight angle blocked.
Around the half hour, there was a timely block by Max Clark to deny Judge, after he’d got on the end of a ball that had made its way through a packed box and all the wall to the back post.
The best chance of the half came moments later, when a deflection fell kindly for Freddie Sears and he struck a powerful effort at goal from the edge of the area, only to be denied by Joel Coleman, who flew to his right to tip a shot round the upright. From the resulting corner, the Dale ‘keeper was forced to push a deflected header over the bar.
Late on, Broadbent had a shot deflected out for a corner, he then struck high over the bar
Rochdale started the second half brightly and got in on goal, testing Sam Horby who pushed Alex Newby’s effort wide of the target, after he’d been played in by Tahvon Campbell from Clark’s cross. Broadbent struck over the bar from the resulting corner.
But Colchester opened the scoring thanks to a moment of brilliance from Judge, in the 53rd minute. The midfielder produced a fine strike, finding the top corner with a dipping volley from 35-yards.
The U’s had chances to extended their lead further in the couple of minutes that followed.
Owura Edwards hit over after latching onto the end of ball to the back post, while Emhyr Hughes, from six-yards, could only strike over from Akinde’s nod down.
Immediately after, in the 58th minute, Charman came on to make his Dale debut, replacing Newby, and Dooley came on for Broadbent 10 minutes later, Rochdale’s second substitution of the game.
Dale equalised with 76 minutes on the clock. Clark's ball came all the way to Corey O'Keeffe at the back post, who stood it up for Grant. He stepped on to it before taking a touch and firing low into the bottom corner.
Rochdale’s third and final substitution followed, with Matty Done replacing Campbell.
Dale were much the better side after the goal and finished the game strongly, although Sears did have a snapshot well held by Coleman. But despite plenty of pressure they couldn’t find a way through.
From a Clark corner that was cleared all the way back out to him, he sent the ball back in and Charman saw a shot blocked.
Soon after, in stoppage time, Clark also had an effort charged down.