U's hold Latics in Boundary Park opener
Reporter: Mark Rooney
Date published: 09 August 2025
Latics were held 1-1 by Colchester
Latics began their home League Two campaign with a 1-1 draw against Colchester United.
A crowd of 7,799 were there to watch Latics play their first Boundary Park match in the EFL for three years.
Joe Quigley and James Robson, both signed in midweek, went straight into the side with Mike Fondop named as substitute.
They were rocked by a Colchester goal after just eight minutes.
A corner on the right from Teddy Bishop was played back to him and his follow up cross was played back in to the far post where Oscar Thorn guided his header past keeper Matt Hudson.
But full credit to Latics - they took control of the game following that early set back and but for a plethora of missed chances could have won the game easily.
With Reagan Ogle’s long throw tactics putting the away side under pressure it always looked like an equaliser was imminent in the first half.
On 24 minutes the U’s keeper Matt Macey dropped Ogle’s effort deep in the box at the feet of Kane Drummond in the six-yard box, but the striker’s powerful effort went over the bar.
Two minutes later it was again Ogle’s throw which caused chaos in the visitor’s box with eventually Joe Quigley’s shot blocked.
A minute later, as Latics dominated, Manny Monthe head over a Ryan Woods free kick.
As pressure mounted the goal came in the 36th Minute.
Josh Hawkes was the scorer with a low cross which went through a crowd of players before nestling in the corner.
At this stage it was no more than Latics deserved.
The second half saw Luke Hannant replace the injured Ryan Woods as the hosts remained on the front foot pushing for the lead.
Fondop came on for Kieron Morris and the twin striker force of Fondop and Quigley caused problems for Colchester.
On the hour Macey saved from Hannant but Hawkes follow up goal bound shot was blocked on the line.
As the second half wore on Quigley and Drummond came close, Quigley’s header went over and in stoppage time Macey produced a smart save from a Kian Harratt shot.
In the end the visitors held firm and both sides had to settle for a point.
Latics manager Micky Mellon seemed pleased with the performance but unhappy that the win had evaded him.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that Colchester go home feeling that they got away with one,” Mellon said after the game,
“I lost count how many chances we had where we should score.
“But that is on us, we have to take those chances, we have to be clinical but the pleasing thing is that we are getting there in terms of opportunities.
"If you don’t take the opportunities, you make it difficult for yourself but, that aside, we have looked really competitive, we battled, we scrapped, I lost count of how many corners we had.
"I am pleased with that but very frustrated we did not get the victory.”
Latics are next in action next Saturday when they host Swindon Town at Boundary Park – the game has a 12.30pm kick-off.
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