For 81 minutes, Chesterfield had this where they wanted it. They had the lead, they had the momentum and, by the look of it, they had done just enough to turn a controlled afternoon into three points. Then Ben Perry happened, and the whole thing snapped back into the kind of result that leaves one side frustrated and the other grateful.
This finished 1-1, but that scoreline does not really tell the story. Dilan Markanday put Chesterfield ahead in the 29th minute and, for most of the match, it looked like that would be the decisive moment. Chesterfield were on top for much of the contest and had chances to extend their lead, which is exactly why the late equaliser stings so badly.
A late rescue changes everything
The equaliser arrived in the 82nd minute, when Colchester United substitute Ben Perry met Oscar Thorn's cross from the right with a close-range header. It was simple, efficient and brutally effective. Chesterfield had spent most of the game trying to protect a lead and create the next big moment, but Colchester United only needed one opening to drag the match back to level.
That is the cruel edge of football standings and results at this level: control is useful, but it is never enough if you do not finish the job. Chesterfield were on top for long stretches and still came away with only a draw because they could not turn pressure into a second goal. Colchester United, meanwhile, kept themselves alive long enough for the match to hand them a route back in.
The final warning came too late for Chesterfield
There was still a chance for Chesterfield to rescue the win in time added on, when Leon Chiwome struck the bar. That moment only sharpened the sense that this was a missed opportunity rather than a neutral point gained. Chesterfield came close to taking the points, but close does not count in standings, and a late equaliser is the sort of thing that changes the mood of an entire afternoon.
So the ending is straightforward, even if the emotions are not. Chesterfield and Colchester United finished level at 1-1, with Markanday's first-half strike cancelled out by Perry's late header. Chesterfield had the better of the game for long spells, but Colchester United found just enough to escape with a point.
