STÉPHANE Zubar’s unfortunate own goal denied Cherries victory at the Weston Homes Community Stadium last night.

The big defender inadvertently turned a Steven Gillespie cross past Darryl Flahavan 18 minutes from time to rob Lee Bradbury’s men of what would have been a deserved win.

Cherries turned in a much-improved display following Saturday’s abject showing against Bury and will have been kicking themselves to have left Essex with only a share of the points.

Bradbury’s troops were handed a great start when Wes Thomas fired them ahead with a stunning strike after just 16 seconds.

And although the visitors were in the ascendancy for long periods, they eventually paid for failing to add to their lead when the hosts grabbed their fortuitous leveller.

Wes Fogden and Scott Malone were drafted into the Cherries starting line-up as boss Bradbury made two changes following defeat by Bury.

For recent recruit Fogden, who was handed his full debut by Cherries, it was his first start in the Football League following a near four-year absence.

Cherries made a dream start when Thomas provided the perfect riposte having missed a couple of excellent chances against Bury by opening the scoring.

And the striker also laid claim to scoring one of the quickest goals in the club’s history when he netted after just 16 seconds – following Colchester’s kick-off.

Having cheaply squandered possession, the hosts were stunned when Malone fed Thomas who rifled an unstoppable right-foot drive past U’s goalkeeper Ben Williams from the edge of the box.

Thomas’s thunderous early strike took his goal tally to five in nine appearances – with the quintet all coming on the road.

Cherries, bidding to become the first team from outside the top seven to defeat Colchester this season, defended their lead with relative during the first half.

With Adam Barrett and Zubar commanding in central defence, ably assisted by full-backs Jaime Peters and Warren Cummings, the hosts were restricted to few chances.

Cherries wasted a free kick from a good position when Malone fired wide before the Wolves loan man then saw an effort blocked after Williams had failed to gather Thomas’s high cross.

The visitors looked the more likely team to score the second goal of the game and dominated for long periods during the first half.

Thomas headed into the arms of Williams after a Stephen Purches cross had found him lurking at the far post before the U’s fashioned their first shooting chance after 24 minutes.

But although leading goalscor er Anthony Wordsworth was allowed time and space on the edge of the box, he failed to test Darryl Flahavan as his shot trickled wide.

Pocket rocket Fogden, who was lively throughout the opening period, was denied from close range when he was just beaten to the ball by Magnus Okuonghae.

Cherries had a minor let-off when Michail Antonio, on loan from Reading, was presented with a free header from a Wordsworth free kick, the midfielder nodding wide when well placed.

And the visitors were then thankful to Flahavan for preserving their lead, the Cherries goalkeeper making a top-drawer save on the stroke of half-time.

Flahavan, who had remained a virtual spectator, came to Cherries’ rescue when he denied Ian Henderson by acrobatically pushing his shot past the upright with his outstretched left hand.

Thomas went close to repeating his first-half heroics at the start of the second period, the striker heading Marc Pugh’s inviting cross past the post in the first minute.

Malone tested Williams with a fierce left-foot drive, the U’s goalkeeper beating away the Cherries midfielder’s strike following a surging run into the 18-yard box.

Pugh, who tormented his marker Ben Coker on numerous occasions, delivered a probing cross to the near post where only a last-ditch saving block by Matt Heath prevented Thomas from adding a second.

Cherries were controversially denied a second goal by a linesman’s flag, Fogden’s header following a Malone short corner chalked off for a baffling offside decision.

Kayode Odejayi almost profited from some slack Cherries defending, the big striker ghosting in at the far post to meet a free kick from deep, only to lift his shot over the crossbar.

Cherries were rocked when Colchester levelled against the run of play, Zubar turning Steven Gillespie’s low cross past his own goalkeeper after Cummings had been culpable in the lead up to the goal.

Buoyed by their fortuitous equaliser, the U’s went in search of a winner and Barrett’s block stopped Gillespie’s thumping drive finding a way through.

Although strikers Michael Symes and Charlie Sheringham replaced Fogden and Thomas after 80 minutes, Cherries were unable to regain the lead.

Cherries: Flahavan 7, Peters 6.5, Zubar 6, Barrett 7, Cummings 6, Pugh 7.5*, Gregory 6.5, Purches 7, Malone 6.5, Fogden 7 (Sheringham, 80), Thomas 7 (Symes, 80).

Unused subs: Carmichael, Fletcher, Jalal (g/k).

Booked: Zubar, Malone.

Colchester: Williams, Bond, Heath, Okuonghae, Coker, Antonio (James, 68), Izzet (Vincent, 54), Wilson, Wordsworth, Henderson (Gillespie, 54), Odejayi.

Unused subs: O’Toole, White.

Booked: Wilson, Gillespie.

Referee: Jock Waugh (South Yorkshire).

Attendance: 3,444 (away attendance not given).