COLCHESTER UNITED 2 (Sheringham 45, Connolly 48)
BARNSLEY 2 (Howard 28 (P), 82 (P))

BARNSLEY hero Brian Howard showed his cool to net twice from the spot as the Reds came away from Layer Road with a point after both sides ended the game with ten men.

Reds manager Simon Davey made one change to his side after the midweek Carling Cup win with Istvan Ferenczi returning at the expense of Miguel Mostto. The Peruvian international had to be content with a place on the bench alongside new arrival Kim Christensen, who's clearance came through late Friday afternoon.

Colchester included ex-England international Teddy Sheringham in a talented looking frontline alongside fellow former Premiership player Kevin Lisbie. Both players were in the top flight last season.

The Reds started the game strongly with Rob Kozluk forcing Dean Gerken into a save with just five minutes on the clock after swinging the ball in from the left. Sheringham then showed a brief glimpse of his talents on 12 minuets as he let fly from the edge of the area but his shot cannoned away off Paul Reid.

rian Howard wasted a good chance to work Gerken again on 24 minutes as he smashed a low free kick into the wall after Kayode Odejayi had been upended.

The game burst into life on 25 minutes as Colchester keeper Gerken was given his marching orders after hauling down Odejayi in the area. It was a controversial decision but Howard coolly stepped up to net his second of the season from the spot.

Howard then tested sub keeper Mark Cousins on 29 minutes when he let fly from the edge of the area.

Ferenczi became the first player booked on 33 minutes after he hit the deck under Pat Baldwin's challenge. The Hungarian thought he had won a free kick but was surprisingly cautioned for diving.

Barnsley keeper Heinz Muller was a virtual spectator through the opening half although the big German did have a nervous moment on 38 minutes as Mark Yates lined one up from distance but the winger's shot flew wide of the mark.

Dominik Werling picked up a yellow card on 43 minutes following a very firm challenge on Yeates that left the Colchester faithful screaming for another sending off. The German got away with just a caution.

The Reds were caught out on the stroke of half time as Geoge Elokobi managed to get the better of his marker down the left flank before sending the ball into the area. It eventually bounced through to Sheringham, who coolly slotted his shot into the bottom corner.

Colchester's ten men started the second half well and managed to get their noses in front on 48 minutes when, yet again, the Reds inability to defend from a set piece cost them dear. This time it was Johnnie Jackson who swung the ball onto the six-yard line from the right and Matthew Connolly was given the freedom of Layer Road to apply a simple finish.

It got even worse for the Reds on 50 minutes as Reid's rash challenge on Sheringham left the referee with no alternative but to brandish a straight red card.

The Reds changed things around on 57 minutes with Sam Togwell and Grant McCann coming into the action to replace Werling and Andy Johnson but it did not to much to stem the Colchester flow as again Jackson caused chaos from a corner a minute later and Connolly was only a yard or two from putting his header on target.

The home side were well on top and Muller had to be at his very best to keep Elokobi and Jackson's crosses from finding their targets in the area.

It took a while but the Reds finally got going in the second half when McCann's corner beat the Us defence on 72 minutes to give Dennis Souza a chance but the big defender could only put his header wide of the target under pressure.

Jackson again had Muller scrambling on 80 minutes as he sent a free kick into the danger area from 25 yards after Souza and fouled Duguid. The big German showed great hands to smother the danger.

At the other end Ferenczi headed wide of the target two minutes later after Kozluk had fired in a great cross from the left.

Barnsley needed a bit of luck and it came from McCann's left footed corner on 82 minutes when the Northern Irishman's kick bounced in the area and struck Jackson on the arm. The referee pointed to the spot and Howard again found the back of the net with his third successful spot kick of the new season.

Both sides pressed for a winner and Duguid flashed a shot wide of the target on 85 minutes before Howard fired over the bar three minutes later. Ferenczi then planted a header wide of the target in stoppage time.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gerken (Sent Off 25), Elokobi, Baldwin, Connolly, Yeates (Virgo 89), Jackson, Izzett, Duguid, McLeod (Guttridge 66), Sheringham, Lisbie (Cousins 26).
Subs: Granville, White.

BARNSLEY: Muller, Nyatanga, Reid, Kozluk, Johnson (Togwell 57), Odejayi, Howard, Ferenczi, Ricketts (Christensen 72), Souza, Werling (McCann 57).
Subs: Colgan, Mostto.