Play-off chasing Colchester United held already-promoted Doncaster Rovers to a 1-1 draw at the Weston Homes Community Stadium after a pulsating encounter.

The U's had led through Brennan Dickenson's spectacular opener but Mathieu Baudry's header just before the break secured title-chasing Rovers a draw.

Colchester remain two points off the play-off places with four games remaining, following today's results.

Colchester head coach John McGreal named an unchanged side for their game with already-promoted Doncaster.

It was the same team that beat Stevenage so impressively, last Saturday.

However, there was a welcome appearance on the substitutes bench for midfielder Doug Loft, who had missed eight months of the season with Achilles and calf problems.

After a tight opening, Colchester made a vital breakthrough in the 16th minute.

Drey Wright’s low cross was flicked on intelligently by Richard Brindley, allowing Dickenson to superbly strike home left-footed into the far top corner for his 12th goal of the season.

Colchester so nearly made it 2-0, just four minutes later.

Skipper Chris Porter’s delightful strike rattled a post and came back out and at that stage, Doncaster looked stunned.

The U's deserved their lead in the opening half hour, with Donny failing to test keeper Sam Walker or create any opportunities of note.

But the leaders slowly warmed to the task and almost equalised through John Marquis, who escaped Cameron James’ attention in the area and curled in a shot that Tom Eastman brilliantly cleared off the line.

At the other end, Brindley volleyed over at the far post after Sean Murray had delivered a cross into the area.

But the U’s were pegged back on the stroke of half-time when defender Baudry rose to powerfully head home Gary McSheffrey’s corner to equalise for Doncaster.

It proved to be Baudry’s final touch of the match, as he was replaced at the break by Aaron Taylor-Sinclair as Donny switched to four at the back.

Colchester almost found themselves behind early in the second half when McSheffrey’s free-kick from the edge of the area clipped the outside of a post before sailing off for a goal-kick.

But at the other end, Wright ran at the Doncaster defence before unleashing a shot that flashed just past the post from the edge of the area, as the contest became increasingly stretched.

Walker made a fine save to deny Donny substitute Alfie May midway through the second half after Marquis’s ball had beaten the U’s offside trap.

With 12 minutes remaining, Murray’s deflected shot bobbled just past the post for a corner after substitute Rekeil Pyke had raced clear and eventually picked him out.

Colchester had a big penalty appeal rejected soon after when Pyke appeared to be pushed to the ground by Craig Alcock in the area following Fosu’s cross but their claims were rejected.

Colchester pressed hard for a winner after that but despite five minutes of stoppage-time it was not forthcoming and they had to settle for a hard-earned point.