Carlisle United boss Williamson on Colchester United draw

The Blues left Essex with a point after holding on for a 0-0 draw.

Carlisle dominated the first half then had to withstand strong Colchester pressure after the break.

Keeper Lewis made some excellent saves and United’s defiance in general pleased Williamson.

“Harry was fantastic, I can’t fault him,” Williamson told the News & Star.

“In big moments, when we needed him, he produced for us.

• Jon Colman's big match verdict on the Blues' draw at Colchester

“There were loads of things to build on. All the boys put their bodies on the line, minute after minute, and it was pleasing to see.”

United’s first draw of the campaign saw the Cumbrians avoid a third straight defeat as they kept a third clean sheet of the campaign.

They remain third bottom of League Two after ten games and Williamson admitted United did not make the most of their good first half showing.

But he said there was plenty of character on show in how they ensured they left Colchester unscathed – while he was also critical of the refereeing display of Thomas Parsons.

“The clean sheet was huge. The spirit and character we did it with, that was big for us,” the Blues boss said.

“Off the back of the first half, we felt we were the better team, we dominated and played some really good football, used the ball really well – then we had to endure a barrage especially towards the end.

“I don’t think the referee helped us, there were a few decisions I’d still like to get a bit of clarity on now, but that is life. Jon [Mellish] got a yellow card for picking the ball and throwing it back, and then their player throws the ball at our player and gets a talking-to.

“There were many things that I thought were interesting, but the boys showed the spirit and character, they didn’t cave and that’s a lot to build on.”

Harrison Biggins battles past JK Gordon (Image: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle had much the better of the first 45 minutes, Josh Vela going closest and United forcing a number of other opportunities.

“The boys moved the ball really well, they made quick decisions and did all the simple things really well and that’s what we’re looking for,” Williamson said.

“Off the back of a couple of defeats, and you’re down near the bottom, it does create those moments where you just need a bit of magic, a little bit of luck here or there to get you over the line to start and build that momentum.

“The only way we do that is by the grit, determination and personality they showed and that’s a lot to build off.

• Colchester United 0-0 Carlisle United - as it happened

“In the second half [Colchester] made a couple of changes and they made it really difficult, and we struggled to find our flow in possession, but we had to show every side of our character, and we were resolute – it’s a good point for us.”

Williamson was particularly pleased with the error-free nature of Carlisle’s defending and their teamwork in general as they held off Colchester.

“We defend from the front – the lads at the front put a shift in for us, then when it got into our defensive third we had to be big and take responsibility, all the way back to H [Lewis] who pulled off some fantastic saves,” he said.

“From front to back we had to defend with that diligence and we did.”

Asked about the difficulty United found in disrupting Colchester’s second-half pressure, Williamson said: “It’s a difficult place to come and they’ve got some really good players – players who’ve played at a higher level.

“The [home] crowd weren’t happy when they were coming off the pitch, they had to come out and commit a bit more forward, but I felt when we did get the ball we were rushing our moments and trying to penetrate and play forward a bit too early when we had to be a bit more patient.

“That will come. The lads will keep working and getting that detail. But the other side, the character they showed, was huge.”

Williamson also paid tribute to the 352 travelling fans who supported United on the fourth longest trip of the campaign.

“They were fantastic,” he said. “I want to thank them for the efforts they go to, because it’s consistent.

“The boys gave everything for them. It’s going to be another long trip [to AFC Wimbledon] next week…but the fans were fantastic and really got behind the boys.”

It was Carlisle's first draw away from home since Boxing Day last year when they drew 1-1 at Fleetwood Town.

And it was their first goalless draw on their travels since the trip to Walsall in April 2023.