Perry came off the bench to head home fellow substitute Oscar Thorn's cross and cap his first League Two appearance since August 2025 with a goal that secured the U's a hard-earned point, at the SMH Group Stadium.

It was reward for a battling display by Colchester, who had to withstand pressure from Chesterfield particularly in the first half and remain in the game after Dilan Markanday had given the hosts a first-half lead.

Indeed, they might have even won it in stoppage time when substitute Leon Chiwome's shot hit the top of the crossbar, after he had found space for himself in the area.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made two changes to his starting line-up for the game at promotion-chasing Chesterfield.

Jaden Williams returned from suspension and went straight into the U’s side, while Kane Vincent-Young also came back in for his first league start since August.

Oscar Thorn dropped to the bench, while Beryly Lubala missed out on a place in the 18 and there was no replacement goalkeeper on the bench.

Full stretch - Colchester United left-back Ellis Iandolo in action against Chesterfield (Image: Richard Blaxall)

Colchester, who lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, were looking for their first win at Chesterfield since 2011, when Michail Antonio scored their winner in a 1-0 victory.

The home side started strongly and in the 11th minute, Jay Williams did well to get a timely foot in and take the ball off Josh Koroma's heels just as he was about to shoot, with the ball rolling just past the post for a corner.

And Chesterfield almost scored again seconds later when Colchester skipper Jack Tucker did well to hook the ball away from near his own goal-line, after the dangerous Markanday had created more problems in the U's area.

The Spireites then came even closer to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half when Louie Marsh’s fine 20-yard first-time strike hit the bar before flying off for a goal-kick.

Chesterfield finally went ahead in the 29th minute.

Markanday, who scored against Colchester in Chesterfield's 3-0 home win last season, had space when he collected Ryan Stirk’s short pass and curled home a right-foot shot past U’s goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala, from just inside the U’s area.

Seemingly not satisfied with just one goal, the Spireites went in search of more.

Marsh’s low shot bobbled just past the post for the hosts after his initial effort had been blocked by a U’s defender, while soon after Josh Koroma's shot deflected inches wide, for another home corner.

Tangle - Colchester United forward Jaden Williams gets to grips with a Chesterfield opponent (Image: Richard Blaxall)

Chesterfield then had the ball in the net again when Marsh’s deflected shot ended up in the net after a quick free-kick by the hosts but the assistant referee rose his flag up and the goal was disallowed, much to Spireites boss Paul Cook’s disappointment.

Colchester went in at the break trailing 1-0 and started the second half in much the same way as they had finished the first; defending their goal.

Jaden Williams did well to get across and block Hutton's attempted shot in the area in the minutes that immediately followed half-time and soon after, Tucker cleared again from near his own goal-line from Marsh's shot, as the Spireites threatened a second.

But Colchester were still in the contest and really should have equalised just before the hour mark when Ihionvien scuffed a great chance wide from six yards, after fine play from Jaden Williams had set him up.

Lo-Tutala saved Marsh's low effort but the U's began to look dangerous and midway through the second half, Moses Sesay's brilliant through ball gave Ihionvien a real sight of goal in the area but a Chesterfield defender was able to take the ball off his toes, just as the U's striker was about to shoot.

Terry cleared Hutton's effort off the line before Colchester made a triple change with 14 minutes remaining, sending on Ben Perry for his first league appearance in 14 months and also Thorn and Sam Kuffour Jnr, in a bid to score an equaliser.

And in came in the 82nd minute when Thorn did brilliantly down the right and floated in a great cross for the arriving Perry to head home from close range.

Substitute Chiwome struck the bar in stoppage time for Colchester but the points were shared.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Lo-Tutala, Tucker, Digby (sub Connolly, 80), Terry, Vincent-Young (sub Kuffour Jnr, 76), Iandolo, Hunt (sub Perry, 76), Jay Williams, Jaden Williams (sub Thorn, 76), Sesay, Ihionvien (sub Chiwome, 89).

Substitutes (not used): Raggett, Harvey.

Chesterfield: Boot, Hutton, Pond, Simpson, Gordon, Stirk, McEachran (sub Dyer, 69), Koroma (sub Mandeville, 69), Marsh (sub Naylor, 69), Markanday (sub Duffy, 69), Bonis (sub Bryden, 84).

Substitutes (not used): Eccleston, Pearce.

Referee: Paul Howard.

Goals: Chesterfield: Markanday (29). Colchester: Perry (82).

Bookings: Colchester: Ihionvien (foul, 36), Hunt (foul, 58). Chesterfield: Pond (foul, 53).

Sending off: None.

Attendance: 6,974 (167 U's fans).