Colchester United secured a hard-earned point from their first game in League Two after playing out a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United.

The U's claimed a deserved draw on the opening day of the new season at Victoria Park, in John McGreal's first game in charge.

Despite the warm conditions the game got off to a breathless start and Colchester almost scored after 12 seconds through Sammie Szmodics, who missed his kick in front of goal.

Szmodics was in the thick of the action again three minutes later when his shot was deflected inches wide after Toto Nsiala’s underhit pass had allowed Chris Porter to capitalise and pick out his team-mate in the area.

And from the resultant corner, Colchester went ahead when Tom Eastman curled into the roof of the net after Pools had failed to clear the set-piece.

The game continued a frantic pace after that and Hartlepool almost equalised minutes later when Padraig Amond's goalbound shot was blocked after the lively Nathan Thomas had broken down the left and picked him out.

Thomas was a lively customer for Pools on their left, while Drey Wright looked equally as dangerous for the U's on the opposite flank.

Hartlepool eventually equalised just before the half hour through experienced forward Billy Paynter, who stroked home from the spot after Szmodics had tripped Thomas in the area, following good build-up play by Lewis Alessandra.

Pools naturally grew in confidence after their equaliser and looked stronger as the half wore on.

They almost went ahead eight minutes before the break when Amond blasted wastefully over after the lively Thomas broke well down the left and picked him out, as the sides went in at the break on level terms.

Craig Slater, one of four Colchester debutants in their starting line-up fired just over from the edge of the area in the opening minutes of the second half while Szmodics dragged an effort well wide, as the visitors started brightly after half-time.

Denny Johnstone was sent on for Chris Porter for his debut on the hour, as the U's went in search of a winner.

And the Scottish forward almost obliged immediately, sending a downward header over the bar from Slater's dangerous free-kick.

At the other end, Nicky Featherstone's low shot was gobbled up by U's keeper Sam Walker as both sides pushed for an all-important goal.

Colchester squandered a golden opportunity to score with 14 minutes remaining when Kurtis Guthrie fired wide with only Trevor Carson to beat, after being picked out by substitute Dion Sembie-Ferris in the area.

Thomas warmed Walker's gloves with a fierce dipping volley late on while Sembie-Ferris almost caught out Nelson with a low effort at his near post, as Colchester had to settle for a share of the spoils in their curtain-raiser.

For five pages of coverage of the U's game at Hartlepool, see Monday's Daily Gazette.