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Freddie Sears denied promotion hopefuls Newport victory with his second-half equaliser.

Dom Telford fired the visitors ahead before the break, curling a shot into the top corner.

But the hosts' perseverance paid off when Sears equalised with 12 minutes remaining, with a clever chip over the goalkeeper.

Colchester rose a place to 17th while Newport stayed ninth and a point off the play-off zone.

Newport boss James Rowberry:

"I feel myself saying the same things in the press every week about... the only thing our goalkeeper's had to do tonight is pick the ball out of the back of the net, for me.

"Listen, I know they've had a lot of possession second half to a degree, but they haven't threatened our goal.

"We've had so many chances again to win the game and we just weren't clinical enough."