A DEPLETED Waltham Forest Ladies team battled to a hard-fought draw at Colchester.

In a team that contained three debutants, Forest gradually felt their way in to the game and broke the deadlock when a neat reverse hit from Anna Ring found the net.

One of Forest's players making her first appearance for the first team then got on the scoresheet, Angela Keneally finding the target after being laid on by Gill Fraser.

The tide turned after the break though, with Colchester finding two quick-fire goals.

Forest looked to have won it, however, when Lisa Kavanagh, another debutant, made the scores 3-2. But the hosts struck from a corner with the clock winding down to salvage a draw.

The result is the seventh game in a row that Forest have avoided defeat as they head in to a well-deserved Christmas break.