Billy Sharp missed the opportunity to net his second penalty of the night and draw the match level. United had made hard work of the game, Martyn Woolford scored his first goal for the Blades, adding to Sharp's earlier penalty to cancel out a first half brace from George Moncur for the visitors. With eight minutes remaining, Marvin Sordell's successful strike proved to be the match winner, but there was to be more drama before the final whistle as the U's were reduced to ten men, and Sharp would prove unsuccessful from the resulting spot kick.
In what was a disastrous first half, the U's, as well as their 2006 FA Cup victory, won their first league encounter at Bramall Lane since 1979. Following the defeat to Bury, Blades boss Nigel Adkins made some changes, Jose Baxter was recalled (replacing Louis Reed) after serving his three match ban, whilst Ryan Flynn (groin) missed out to injury.
After his few weeks 'rest' Baxter was back on form, his teasing 30 yard shot was wide in the earlier exchanges but it was the visitors who got off to the better start. Sordell did well to charge down the middle, and with a cluster of United players surrounding him, he slipped the ball into the path of MONCUR to clip past Howard.
United's game play was slow but the hosts were able to create chances without a positive finish, Baxter's deep cross was met by Sharp who headed straight at Jones, and after Woolford masterminded a quickly taken free-kick, Basham almost got on the end of his dinked back post cross.
The hosts quickly became displacement and continued to lose possession and give away cheap free-kicks as the visitors were onto too happy to oblige in attacking the Kop goal. They soon doubled their lead on 23 minutes, Garvan produced a weighted pass to MONCUR, who beat the offside trap before slipping the ball past Howard again.
Colchester threatened to add further damage to United, a third goal would have surely seen the large majority of the 17,623 rapidly leave early, but despite their best efforts the Blades were able to keep them at bay. Moncur looked for his hat-trick, but his 30 yard curled wide and Garvan's effort was tipped round the post.
Edwards smashed a 25 yard effort onto the bar as half-time approached, whilst, at the other end, Sharp twice had opportunities to reduce the arrears, he got onto the end of Edgar's neat through ball, but after he chest down he brought out a great reaction save from Jones, and then fired over the top from Woolford's cross.
United started the second half in a much better tempo than that of the first 45 minutes, and virtually began with McEverley charging into the box before being upheld, with a penalty concluding as the only decision. SHARP stepped up and his initial penalty was saved by Jones, but the referee's assistant flagged for an infringement as the keeper was judged to have been yards off his line, at the second attempt he made no mistake, and made amends for his initial error.
The Blades were back in it, and that goal gave them in impetus they richly needed, substitute McNulty cut in from the left flank, he cut through a couple defenders, but fired wide when a less glamorous, but more affective toe punt may have done the trick. It wasn't long before United levelled through a quick throwing to Sharp on the by-line, who beat his marker to release WOOLFORD to stab home on the angle; 2-2.
Colchester's quick pace remained a threat, Garvan saw his free-kick spectacularly tipped round the post as the U's showed they had come for maximum points, Massey and Garvan both went close which saw Edgar heading off his own goal line. with just eight minutes left of the ninety, SORDELL fired home to net his first goal for his new club, his 25 yard effort was met with luck, as it cannoned off Edgar it left Howard flat footed, and the former Arsenal stopper could only watch it agonisingly find the bottom corner.
It was a kick in the teeth for the Blades who had showed great courage to come from two goals down, but on 86th minute there was to be a reprieve, or so the United faithful thought. Sharp was baring down one-on-one on goal but found himself clattered by Elokobi, he was handed a straight red for his troubles, but Jones was able to poise himself in goal and his timed dive kept out Sharp, and there best chance of levelling the scores were gone. The fourth official raised a further six minutes, but were unable to create another golden opportunity.
Sheffield United: Howard, Freeman, Basham, Sharp, Baxter, Collins, Woolford (Scougall 83), Sammon (McNulty 54), McEveley, Campbell-Ryce (Higdon 89), Edgar. Unused: Alcock, Reed, Long, K Wallace.
Colchester United: Jones, Garvan, Briggs, Edwards, Elokobi, Moncur (Kent 87), Massey, Eastman, Vincent-Young, Harriott (Ambrose 74), Sordell (Bonne 90). Unused: Wynter, Szmodics, Sembie-Ferris, Parish.