Charles Vernam’s brace was not enough for Derby County’s Under 23s as Colchester United fought back from two goals down to claim a share of the spoils in the Premier League Cup.

The Rams’ 20-year-old forward struck twice in the first half – his eighth and ninth goals of the season – whilst Callum Guy also missed a penalty spot kick during a period in which the visitors held a one goal advantage.The excellent Dion Sembie-Ferris halved the deficit with a close-range finish to begin the comeback five minutes before the interval, before Cameron James levelled matters after bundling in a precise deep free kick.Either side could have won the entertaining clash as the clock ticked down and Vernam came closest to sealing the three points, but sent a first-time effort agonisingly wide of the far post as Darren Wassall’s side were forced to settle for a point.Set pieces were the key to this game – a factor that was earmarked before the game – as three of the four goals scored on the night came from dead ball situations.The first led to the Rams’ perfect start at the Weston Homes Community Stadium as Vernam opened the scoring.From the right, Guy swung in a corner that Colchester’s backline failed to clear fully and the ball dropped to the edge of the box. Vernam lurked in that position and lashed a shot towards goal that caught out Dillon Barnes and nestled into the bottom corner.Some fine, free-flowing, football nearly concluded with a quick fire second for the Rams.The initial damage was done down the U’s right side again as Kellan Gordon whipped in a dangerous cross that evaded everyone in a central position and fell to the feet of Alex Babos. He lined up a volley, but his effort was claimed by Barnes.Colchester shadowed the remainder of the first half with the pacey Sembie-Ferris looking particularly threatening and with Will Hoskins, the former Watford man, leading the line, but against the run of play, Wassall’s men were awarded a penalty.It came after Gordon had been hauled down in the penalty area. Guy assumed responsibility, but saw his spot kick well saved by Barnes, who flung himself to his right to get two firm hands to the effort, before the hosts hacked the danger away.Proceedings continued to sway one way then the other as Sembie-Ferris forced Chris Weale into his first save of the evening, whilst Vernam fired an effort over. Moments later, however, it was 2-0.Another corner resulted in another goal as the ball was swung in, this time from the left, but as Barnes jumped to claim the high ball, he dropped it and Vernam was on hand to turn the ball into the back of the net.The visitors were unable to keep the hosts at bay as they attempted to go into the break two goals to the good as Colchester began their comeback five minutes before interval as Sembie-Ferris finally got his name on the scoresheet by capitalising on a loose ball following a right-wing cross.With an extra incentive, the hosts returned for the second 45 minutes with a spring in their step and duly got back on level terms 10 minutes later.Having won a free kick just inside the Derby half, Charley Edge swung in a precise delivery that was turned beyond Weale by the outstretched leg of James. All square.From there, either side could have nicked all three points in an end-to=end finale in Essex.Louis Dunne went close with a long-range effort that had Weale back pedalling, but both sides went closer to finding a winner in the dying embers of this contest.Vernam had Derby’s after Calum Macdonald kept close control of the ball on the goal line, wandered past a challenge, and cut the ball back. The Derby forward waited and directed his first-time effort towards the far corner, but he got too much on it and just sent it over.At the other end, Weale was busy. He denied Sembie-Ferris, who hit a shot across goal, whilst Decarrey Sheriff, the substitute, should have won it, but volleyed over after the Rams’ goalkeeper made another standout stop.That proved to be the last of the chances as both sides settled for a point, as Derby got their cup campaign up and running.Barnes, Ocran, Wilson, Wright, Grandison (Keys, 86), James, Sembie-Ferris, Regis, Hoskins (Sheriff, 71), Edge, DunneWilliams, McKeown, AndersonWeale, Stabana, Cover, Lelan, Macdonald; Guy, Elsnik, Vernam; Gordon (Walker, 46), Babos (Cresswell, 71), JakobsenRavas, Mitchell-Lawson, BatemanTweets by @ dcfcofficial