Colchester United 2 Carlisle United 2: Tobi-Sho-Silva's first Carlisle United goal salvaged a late point for the Blues in a grim struggle at Colchester.

Keith Millen's side stopped the rot of defeats after the January signing headed home in the 86th minute.

That came after Omari Patrick's superb opener had been overturned by goals fom Tommy Smith and Tyreik Wright with all the scoring coming in the second half between the two strugglers.

United remained outside the relegation zone by the skin of their teeth as a late Newport County goal denied Oldham Athletic victory in a 3-3 draw in south Wales.

For Carlisle, an often poor showing at least brought an end to their four-game losing sequence as they remain in a battle for their Football League lives.

They remain third bottom, two points above the relegation zone, having not won in seven games.

United manager Millen made two changes to his starting line-up, handing a debut to loan defender Mitchell Roberts and also recalling fit-again Jon Mellish.

They came in at the expense of Danny Devine and Tyrese Omotoye.

Colchester's interim boss Wayne Brown made three changes, meanwhile, bringing back in Cole Skuse, Tom Eastman and Owura Edwards, as Luke Hannant, Gene Kennedy and Wright dropped out.

They had ex-Blues keeper Shamal George back from suspension and on the bench, but experienced striker John Akinde missed out after a recent Covid absence.

A first half of little incident brought a chance for Owura Edwards after eight minutes, when Carlisle struggled to deal with a corner, but the Colchester attacker's shot cleared the bar.

United were by and large on the defensive, with Roberts joining Morgan Feeney and Dynel Simeu as a third centre-half, in a system that involved Joe Riley and Jack Armer as wing-backs, Corey Whelan and Mellish in central midfield and Owen Windsor more advanced in support of Sho-Silva and Patrick.

Feeney was watchful to cut out a couple of Colchester attacks as United kept Brown's side largely at arm's length, but the football was often of poor quality between these two strugglers.

Alan Judge went over cheaply and was denied a penalty on the half-hour, while later Cole Skuse turned an attempt over the bar after Mark Howard had spilled a free-kick.

Freddie Sears fired wide when played in, before Howard was alert to keep out a first-time Skuse shot, with the Blues themselves having offered nothing in the Colchester half come the break.

That soon changed, though, after Windsor had tested Sam Hornby with an early attack after the break.

Carlisle then took the lead in superb fashion when Sho-Silva laid the ball to Patrick, and he did the rest by cutting in and firing an impressive shot across Hornby and into the far right of the net after 51 minutes.

Colchester tried to respond but Skuse wasted a good shooting opportunity from the edge of the box.

The game was then briefly held up when a corner flag was broken by Mellish - before Colchester broke to equalise.

They earned a corner through Edwards, and when United struggled to clear, Sears sent it back across from the left, and captain Smith rose highest to head low past Howard in the 68th minute.

That gave Colchester renewed confidence, Sears then almost setting up Edwards on the break, and then the Essex outfit went ahead in the 74th minute.

Carlisle failed to clear their lines once again, and when Myles Kenlock sent it over from the left, sub Wright was able to hook a shot high into the net.

Brendan Wiredu failed to convert a chance for a third and things were looking bleak for United and their 242 travelling fans.

Millen sent on Kristian Dennis in the hope of sparking something - but it was Sho-Silva who rescued the Blues.

Patrick fed Riley in space to the right and when he checked inside and crossed, ex-Sutton man Sho-Silva was behind the defence as he stooped to send a header inside the far post for his first United goal.

Edwards passed up a late chance for the hosts as Carlisle held on through seven minutes of added time for a point.

Colchester: Hornby, Chambers, Smith, Eastman (Wright 61), Wiredu (Huws 84), Tchamadeu, Skuse, Kenlock, Judge, Edwards, Sears. Not used: George, Welch-Hayes, Hannant, Andrews, Kennedy.

Goals: Smith 68, Wright 74.

Carlisle: Howard, Feeney, Simeu, Roberts, Armer, Riley, Whelan, Mellish, Patrick, Windsor (Dennis 78), Sho-Silva (Devitt 87). Not used: Norman, Devine, Alessandra, Gibson, Omotoye.

Goals: Patrick 51, Sho-Silva 86.

Booked: Riley, Roberts, Mellish.

Ref: Lee Swabey.

Crowd: 2,664 (242 United fans)