Doug Loft was delighted to finally be back in the Colchester United starting line-up, after eight months of injury anguish.

But the U’s midfielder was left crestfallen – as were all his team-mates – by Morecambe’s 87th minute equaliser, a penalty dispatched by U’s old boy Michael Rose in a 1-1 draw at the Globe Arena yesterday afternoon.

It was very much two points dropped in the U’s quest for a play-off place, although they remain just two points adrift of the top seven with three matches to play.

“It was not a very nice pitch, and it didn’t make for a very nice game, but we had enough experience and know-how to have seen that game out,” insisted Loft.

“We should have done it, and it was poor from us. All the boys are disappointed.

“We should have seen the game out. The old pros should have spoken up a bit more and we should have kept the ball in the corner, rather than put it into the box.

“We should have seen the game out because it would have been a massive three points.”