Colchester United drew one all with Cardiff City at Layer Road this afternoon. Johnnie Jackson scored the U's goal after City had seen former Dutch International striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink sent off.

Colchester United proved that there was some fight still left in them as they came back from a goal down to get a deserved point against Cardiff City at Layer Road this afternoon. Paul Parry's curling effort put the FA Cup Semi-finalists ahead after ten minutes, but following the dismissal of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Johnnie Jackson volleyed the U's level. Despite a string of late corners though, the U's just couldn't find a winner in a much-improved display.

Geraint Williams made two changes to the side beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Central defender Matt Heath made his U's debut after arriving on loan from Leeds United on Friday afternoon while youngster Medy Elito was given his first start after three substitute appearances. Kem Izzet was dropped to the bench alongside Scott Vernon, Bela Balogh and another youngster in Anthony Wordsworth.

For Cardiff, former Chelsea and Leeds striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink led the line with the highly rated Paul Parry alongside him. There was a clutch of former Aston Villa men for the Bluebirds with goalkeeper Peter Enckleman and Peter Whittingham having played for the Midlands club along with substitutes Michael Oakes and Riccardo Scimeca. Former West Ham midfielder Trevor Sinclair was also on the bench.

United started brightly. Duguid almost latched on to Lisbie's flick but Enckleman was brace enough to get to the ball thought from angle it looked as though the U's skipper was entitled to go for the ball. Enckleman required treatment after the collision.
However, Cardiff opened the scoring on eleven minutes with a goal pretty much out of the blue. There looked little danger when Parry received the ball with his back to goal and Virgo tight behind him. However, the former Hereford striker turned expertly and in one movement struck a curling effort past Gerken and in to the top corner of the net. Though some on the terrace were moaning about conceding yet another goal - and with it the chance of a clean sheet - sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say 'great goal'. This was one of those occasions.

The U's weren't deterred though. The U's strike partnership combined on the edge of the box but Platt couldn't quite get the ball out from under his feet and side-footed wide. Aaron Ramsey then saw his shot miss the target for the visitors before Lisbie just couldn't collect a through ball from Duguid inside the box and Enckleman was able to collect. Perhaps Lisbie might have been better trying to divert the ball goalwards instead of trying to control a well-hit pass from such close range.

Parry saw his diving header from Ramsey's cross go behind for a goal-kick while Gerken was always comfortably behind Whittingham's grass-cutter.

United's best chance came as Lisbie managed to get in behind the Cardiff back-line. He pulled the ball back to Duguid whose shot was sliced wide and went out for a throw.

However, the U's should have had a penalty next but were denied by Cambridgeshire referee K Wright. Lisbie was again in the action, getting himself poised to fire Jackson's header towards goal when he was clearly tugged from behind. The former Charlton man managed to get some sort of shot on target which Enckleman saved but his balance was affected by the pull back. Geraint Williams was quick to admonish the referee for his failure to award U's the spot-kick.

Lisbie was even closer to notching his 14th of the season when he saw his shot come back off the post. Quick feet and decent control had got him deep in to the City penalty area but the U's striker just couldn't find the back of the net.

After a foul on Elito - who was having a steady first appearance for the U's - Duguid tested Enckleman with a low shot to the far post which the Finnish keeper did well to deal with. Hammond, again impressing in the heart of the U's midfielder, saw a snap shot go a couple of yards wide as the curtain came down on an entertaining first 45 minutes.

Neither side made any changes at the break as the U's looked to avoid their 6th straight defeat. The change of ends did mean that the row of coppers who had taken up position in the Terrace behind the goal went away - probably in search of doughnuts.
Jackson provided the half's first talking point with a volley straight at Enckleman while Ramsey cut in from wide to shoot on the angle but Gerken was confident enough to allow the ball to go out for a goal-kick.

Dean Hammond then showed the U's fans just what he was all about and why Robbie Cowling paid £250k for his services in late January. The energetic box-to-box midfielder chased a hopeless lost cause down the right-hand side and took advantage of a moment’s hesitancy from the City fullback. His cross may have been headed away for a corner but the ex-Brighton man drew a round of applause for his efforts from the U's faithful.

Gerken had to be quick off his line - he appeared to be on his heels to start with - to smother the ball after which Parry needed lengthy treatment.

The U's goalkeeper then found himself at the centre of the games' most controversial moment. Hasselbaink chased after a long ball in to the U's box which Gerken also came for. The former Telstar striker appeared to go in with his boot up high - perhaps the only thing he did wrong - but the referee decided that the incident was worthy of a red card for the Dutch International. From my vantage point - admittedly a long way away - it looked a harsh decision as to me, he had every right to go the ball. Yes, his foot was high but that looked the only thing wrong with it.

With City down to ten men, the U's started to get a head of steam on as the pressed for the equaliser. However, it was the visitors who almost scored next as Ramsey raced down the left and put over a perfect cross for Whittingham whose header was just too high.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones made his first change of the afternoon as Sinclair replaced the impressive Paul Parry but the new City man could only watch five minutes later as United got back on level terms.

It came from a U's corner on the Main Stand side of the ground. Duguid took it quickly to Elito who crossed in to the box. However, the ball was behind the main phalanx of players and found, quite by change I think otherwise it was ball of the season, an unmarked Johnnie Jackson who from the edge of the box, produced a stunning right foot volley that Enckleman had no chance with as it whistled into the top corner of the net.
Elito, buoyed by his part in the goal, tried a volley himself from a fairly central position, but he struck the ball in to the ground and Enckleman saved with ease. Hammond's shot hit the Gary Bennett Memorial Netting before Scimeca and Thompson came on for City at the expense of Ramsey and Joe Ledley with a dozen or so minutes remaining.

Matt Heath - commanding at the back - did well to recover after Thompson initially gave him the slip near the half-way line. It took a desperate lunge from the Leeds man to block the Scottish striker's shot and as a result of that, Heath looked to have done something to his groin. On this performance, Williams will hope it’s not too serious. John White came off with six minutes left in place of Scott Vernon with Duguid moving to left back and the former Blackpool man to the right of midfield. Elito then went off to a standing ovation after his first full game for the U's and was replaced by Anthony Wordsworthn who made his League debut - he had previously appeared for the U's at Shrewsbury in the League Cup.

Platt saw his header go wide before the U's forced a string of corners as they looked to find a winner against the ten men. Jackson took four from the right before Wordsworth had two go from the left before Virgo eventually headed behind. Interesting to note that Wordsworth's corner - despite him probably being nervous - both beat the front man and caused City problems. He also showed great confidence in his cameo and promises good things in the future.

The U's couldn't find the winner they so desperately wanted, however, this was a performance showing far more grit and determination than that shown in recent weeks and the crowd appreciated their efforts on the final whistle.

Shot of the Match: Jackson's volley for the goal was unstoppable.
Save of the Match: I can't recall either keeper making a save of real note.
Moment of the Match: Hasselbaink's sending off turned the game United's way - but I have a strong feeling that an appeal will come from the Welshman.
Moan of the Match: How did the referee and linesman miss the penalty in the first half? I also thought that Williams' waited far too long before bringing on Vernon - six minutes just isn't enough for someone to get in to game.

Man of the Match: On an improved performance from the U's there were still only a few candidates for the award. Hammond looks a terrific signing and I hope that he'll be here next season to partner Jackson in a useful looking midfield partnership. However, neither wins the award tonight as my MOTM goes to Matt Heath. The debutant looked at ease with everything he did. He won most of the aerial challenges, organised the defence and used the ball wisely when he had it. Put him together with Chris Coyne and I think you'd have the best central defensive partnership from the Used so far this campaign.

Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Heath, Virgo, White (Vernon 84), Duguid, Hammond, Jackson, Elito (Wordsworth 87), Lisbie, Platt.
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Balogh, Izzet.

Goals: Jackson 71.

Cardiff: Enckelman, Blake, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Whittingham (Sinclair 66), Rae, Ramsey (Scimeca 77), Ledley (Thompson 78), Hasselbaink, Parry.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Purse.

Sent Off: Hasselbaink (62).

Booked: Blake.

Goals: Parry 11.

Att: 4,699

Ref: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Photo: Action Images

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