Dominic Thompson’s first Forest Green Rovers goal helped his side salvage a point as they drew 3-3 in an enthralling encounter with Colchester United.  

Steve Cotterill made three changes to his side that narrowly lost 1-0 against Accrington Stanley last weekend, which included a return for Christian Doidge following his move from Hibernian.  

And it was a strong start from Cotterill’s side who found themselves ahead inside ten minutes when Matty Stevens confidently dispatched from the penalty spot after Jordan Moore-Taylor was fouled.

Colchester could have been level on 19 minutes if not for the heroics of Luke Daniels who produced a fantastic point-blank range save to deny Noah Chilvers close ranged volleyed effort  

Just 10 minutes later, on his return to the club, Doidge doubled Rovers lashing a loose ball into the roof of the net from close range following an Emmanuel Osadebe blocked effort.  

Daniels once again was called into action on the stroke of half time when he had to scramble across his goal line to claw a Harry Anderson deflected effort away from danger. 

Rovers headed into the interval with the advantage, but Colchester came out on the front foot in the second period, stunning Rovers with three goals in the space of five minutes. 

Alistair Smith got Colchester’s scoring started on 65 minutes when he accurately found the far corner from a tight angle.  

Jayden Fevrier squared the game two minutes later after Anderson cut a cross back towards him to send a low, first-timed effort past Daniels. 

And on 70 minutes, Anderson completed the turnaround when he swivelled on the edge of the area before placing a low effort into the bottom corner.  

But Colchester could only hold onto that lead for five minutes as Thompson’s driven effort from 20-yards forced an error from goalkeeper Owen Goodman to level the game once again. 

Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Iandolo, Hall, Chilvers (Akinde 61’), Hopper, Read, Anderson (Wilkinson 80’), Harbottle, Richardson, A. Smith, Fevrier.

Forest Green Rovers starting XI: Daniels, Inniss, McAllister, McCann, Stevens (Jones 77’), Moore-Taylor (Bernard 43’), Thompson (Oyedele 90’), Dabo (Robson 77’), Bunker, Osadebe.

Star Man: Christian Doidge.

Attendance: 4,519 (174)