Wolves 1 (Elliott 31)
Colchester United 0
Deep into injury time, only the woodwork prevented Colchester's Kem Izzet from cancelling out Stephen Elliott's first-half opener and giving the visitors what would have been a richly deserved point.
Wolves were never at their best and clearly missed the midfield presence of Seyi Olofinjana and the pace of Michael Kightly.
The duo, along with Jay Bothroyd, were all injured in the derby clash with West Bromwich and they were replaced by Darren Potter, Elliott and Freddy Eastwood.
Colchester kicked-off attacking the North Bank end but possession immediately fell to Wolves and inside the first minute Darron Gibson's low cross skidded through the visitors' box.
United responded with a 25-yard free-kick from Mark Yeates. He got plenty of power behind his effort but Wayne Hennessey dived to his right and confidently claimed the ball.
Gibson's corner skimmed the head of Jody Craddock and then Eastwood hit a first time volley high into the Jack Harris Stand as Wolves continued to press.
But Colchester, and Yeates in particular, were unlucky in the 11th minute when the midfielder's drive from 20-yards struck the base of a post and bounced to safety.
The U's were growing in confidence and Kevin Lisbie tested Hennessey with a shot from just inside the area before Karl Henry fouled Lisbie to the right of the box. Yeates' free-kick flashed across the face of Hennessey's goal and went narrowly wide of the far post.
After a virtually chanceless period of play Wolves moved into a 31st minute lead. Gibson fired over a cross from the left and Eastwood's powerful header had 'goal' written all over it.
Dean Gerken in the Colchester goal pulled off an amazing reflex save but the unfortunate keeper had no chance as Elliott nodded the loose ball into the empty net.
Bela Balogh was injured in the incident and he was replaced by Matthew Connolly.
Eastwood saw his angled shot saved by Gerken but there was little else to trouble either keeper at the end of a rather tepid half of football.
Half-Time: Wolves 1 Colchester 0
Colchester won a free-kick seconds after play resumed when Potter tripped Kevin Watson 25-yards out. John Jackson's kick clipped the defensive wall and drifted out for the first of two corners within as many minutes. Both were taken by Jackson and both were cleared without too much concern.
Eastwood and Stephen Ward were crowded out as they tried to get in shots and Potter was too high with a long-distance effort.
On the hour mark Eastwood hit a tremendous shot from 25-yards that beat Durken but smacked against the inside of the post before cannoning to safety.
Neill Collins blocked from Karl Duguid and, from Jackson's corner the ball was headed out to newly arrived substitute Kevin McLeod who fired high over the bar.
Andy Keogh replaced Elliott with 20 minutes remaining and within moments of his introduction Eastwood spread a pass out to Stephen Ward to the left of the Colchester area. Ward beat his marker before firing a yard wide of the far post.
Danger beckoned when Yeates threaded a pass through to Jackson but the Colchester man slipped and fell over as he was about to shoot at goal with just Hennessey to beat.
Veteran striker Teddy Sheringham received a warm welcome from the Molineux crowd as he ran on to replace Lisbie.
Keogh headed wide at the near post following a corner from Gibson but it was hearts in mouths time as the game entered the last of the three minutes of added time.
Sheringham nodded a cross down to Izzet whose shot beat Hennessey but hit the inside of the post and bounced back into the arms of the grateful keeper.
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, D. Ward, Henry, Craddock (capt) (Gray 87), N. Collins, Potter, Eastwood, Elliott (Keogh 69), Gibson, S. Ward.
Unused subs: Little, Jarvis, Stack.
Colchester: Gerken, Granville, Jackson, Watson (McLeod 63), Duguid (capt), Platt, Izzet, Yeates, Virgo, Lisbie (Sheringham 73), Balogh (Connolly 33).
Unused subs: Guy, Cousins.
Referee: E. Ilderton.
Attendance: 20,966.
Gold Rush Lucky 4 Half-Time Draw v Colchester: 2 - 7 - 10 - 11
