Colchester United boss John McGreal was proud of his players’ performance, both during today’s 2-0 home win over Yeovil, and throughout an injury-ravaged season.

Tarique Fosu netted a sweet brace to beat Yeovil on the final day of the regular campaign, to ensure a winning end to the season, but they finished agonisingly short of the play-off zone.

For much of the afternoon, the U’s were occupying a top-seven place, due to Fosu’s 36th minute opener and other results elsewhere going in their favour.

And when Fosu doubled the lead in the 77th minute, the U’s looked in a strong position.

But almost simultaneously Carlisle scored a winner at Exeter, to snatch that last play-off berth at Colchester’s expense with a 3-2 victory.

The U’s finished in eighth spot.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb at times this season, but great credit to the boys for taking it down to the very last game,” enthused McGreal.

“Results did not just fall our way today. It ended up being a shoot-out between five or six teams.

“We didn’t know what was happening elsewhere at half-time.

“I wanted it that way, so that the players could focus on their own game, and winning the match.

“I’m proud of what the boys did today, and what they achieved throughout the season.

“We could feel it during the second half, when the fans went delirious (Carlisle trailing at Exeter, and other results also going the U’s way), and then things went quiet shortly after we scored our second.

“But we kept focused until the end, kept pushing, and got the win,” added McGreal.

George Elokobi said: “We did what we had to do, we won the game and we kept a clean-sheet.

“There was no pressure on us today, because we knew that we were strong enough to beat anyone on our day.

“I’m not too down-hearted, because we gave it our best shot and we got the three points.

“I’m glad that we have ended the season on a high, and that I have also ended the season on a high.

“Now it’s about keeping our momentum going into next season,” added Elokobi.