Colchester United 1 Swindon Town 1

Colchester United failed to secure the victory that would have seen them escape the relegation zone, in a pulsating encounter against Swindon tonight.

It had looked so promising for the U’s, when Jacob Murphy swept home inside the very first minute of the game.

But Tony Humes’ men could not find the second goal that would have given them some much-needed breathing space.

And Swindon, already guaranteed fourth spot in League One, grabbed the killer equaliser in the 53rd minute via Ben Gladwin’s header from Yasser Kasim’s corner.

The U’s poured forward in numbers, in search of a late winner, and both Chris Porter and George Moncur went close.

Porter also hit the inside of the post, with a towering header from David Fox’s cross in the 83rd minute. That was a heart-breaking moment.

It all means that the U’s remain in the bottom four, with their fate out of their hands, going into this Sunday’s final round of matches.

The U’s must beat second-placed Preston, in their final fixture, and hope that results elsewhere go their way, if they are to avoid the drop.

Squads

COLCHESTER: Walker, Brindley, Khumalo, Eastman, Briggs, Fox, Gilbey (sub Szmodics, 87), Moncur, Massey, Porter, Murphy (sub Sembie-Ferris, 78). Unused subs: Lewington, Wynter, Healey, Bonne, Lapslie.

SWINDON: Foderingham, Stephens, Thompson (sub Ricketts, 67), Turnbull, Byrne, Gladwin, Luongo, Kasim, Toffolo (sub Rossi-Branco, 49), Obika, Williams (sub Hylton, 55). Unused subs: Belford, Smith, Swift, Rodgers.

Referee: K Johnson (Somerset)

Attendance: 4,395 (343 away fans)