Stevenage were pegged back in their quest for all three points at Colchester as Darren Sarll’s side were made to settle for a point in their first away game of the season.
Danny Newton put Boro deservedly ahead early in the second half but ten minutes later, Colchester's Mikael Mandron capitalised on a mix-up at the back to make it 1-1.
Sarll named three changes for the game with Matt Godden and Jonathan Smith both making their league debuts (McKee & Pett out), whilst Harry Beautyman returned to the fold in place of Alex Samuel.
Although Colchester had a brilliant chance with Mandron just a few minutes in - put off by Gorman’s sliding challenge in the nick of time - Stevenage soon got on top of proceedings and had the better of the first half. Corner after corner and free-kick after free-kick were swung into the home team’s box, but Boro unable to make any of the pressure count.
Harry Beautyman saw two half-chances go begging, Chris Whelpdale headed into the side-netting and Luke Wilkinson failed to find a way through a crowded box as the ante was stepped up.
It was a vast contrast to last season’s shambles as Boro had the better of the opening period. Matty Godden twice got in-behind the defence, blazing wide first before trying to find Newton the second time, just cut-out by the Colchester defence.
Newton made the keeper work with a low drive that lacked a bit of zip and apart from a fine save from Fryer to deny Jackson in added time; it was a strong opening to the game for Stevenage.
Boro got off to a flying start in the second half and were the width of the post away from taking an immediate lead. Matt Godden trying to bend a low one in from a tight angle, not quite enough curve on the strike.
Minutes later though, his strike-partner did the business. A quick turn, swivel and shot from 10 yards out to send the away supporters into delirium.
The chance was created after Dale Gorman clipped a delightful ball over the defence for Joe Martin to latch onto, who managed to get past his man before squaring for Newton. A deserved lead and the second goal in two games for the new striker.
Ben Kennedy came on for Matty Godden with 30 minutes to go, his first appearance for the club this season after recovering from injury.
Despite the good play up until that point, Colchester pegged Boro back with 65 minutes gone. Fryer with an uncharacteristic mistake as he came out to clear a long ball, only for Wright to get there first and play in Mandron who found the route to goal.
Rater surprisingly, it was Fraser Franks who soon after had two chances to put his team back ahead. First up, cushioning the ball over the bar with Walker committed, before heading just wide of the far post from Dale Gorman’s corner.
Colchester could have taken the lead on 75 minutes with a couple of scary moments as the ball flashed past the post, but it was Ben Kennedy who had the best opportunity to score late in the game, forcing Walker into a fine stop with a curling effort towards the bottom corner.
Despite feeling like it could have been more, a solid start to Boro’s campaign on the road.
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