John Ward admitted neither team deserved to lose after watching his Colchester United side play out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Peterborough United.

Both sides came close to grabbing a late winner at London Road, with goalkeeper Joe Lewis saving from the U's Ian Henderson and substitute Andrew Bond clearing Charlie Lee's header off the line, in stoppage-time.

But the game finished all square after Henderson had cancelled out George Boyd's early opener and boss Ward said that was a fair result.

Ward said: “Both teams and both sets of supporters will have come away thinking that they could have won it.

“That says everything about English football.

“There were mistakes, there was good football and it was a pudding of a pitch.

“There were two teams who were toe-to-toe and hammer and tongs and attacking football.

“I can see why there have been some high-scoring draws here.

“It could have been a 4-4 here tonight but I'm really pleased with my team.

“We can take a lot of credit from our performance.

“We have got massive respect for people like McCann, Boyd and Mackail-Smith.

“So for us to come and stand face to face with them and put on that kind of show was really pleasing.

“I don't think anyone deserved to lose and the crowd have seen a fantastic game of football.

“It was a sweet strike by Boyd and hit it really well.

“But the response from my team was extremely positive and we got back in the game.”

Meanwhile, U's boss Ward praised goalscorer Henderson, after he produced a man-of-the-match performance.

“I thought Ian Henderson was excellent for us,” added Ward.

“He found a lot of space and it was no surprise that he scored.

“He's done well – he's had two games in the side and at the moment, he's keeping a very good Ashley Vincent out of the team.

“That augers well for me and my football team, because we have got two very strong players who play in that wide right position.”

Meanwhile, Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson admitted the U's deserved their point.

Ferguson said: “Colchester were excellent in the first half and the draw was the most that we deserved.”

For a full match report and pictures from the U's game at Peterborough United, see Wednesday's Gazette.