SO the news has finally been confirmed.

Colchester United will take on Exeter City, managed by former U’s loanee Matt Taylor, for a place in the League Two play-off final, at Wembley.

The U’s will host the first leg at the JobServe Community Stadium next week, before making the long trip down to Devon for the second leg against the Grecians on June 22.

Judging by the games played out between the two clubs this season, it will be a very close affair.

When John McGreal’s side visited St James Park back in January, both sides had their fair share of chances in what was an even battle.

The goal-less draw saw the U’s extend their unbeaten run in League Two to 15 matches; the closest they came to scoring was when Callum Harriott’s close-range shot was blocked on the line by Pierce Sweeney, late in the first half.

It was probably a fair result though, as was the 2-2 draw between the two sides in their final game of 2019.

That was a hugely entertaining contest at the JobServe Community Stadium where the U’s had looked on course to claim a big win after goals from Harry Pell and Theo Robinson had cancelled out Jake Taylor’s early opener for the Grecians.

However, substitute Ryan Bowman salvaged a point for Exeter from the spot with 13 minutes remaining after being brought down by U’s substitute Tom Lapslie, who was sent off.

It was another game in what was a hectic schedule for McGreal’s side at the time and they paid the price, losing the likes of Omar Sowunmi and Cohen Bramall to injury.

There will be no such gruelling build-up for Colchester ahead of their first-leg meeting with Exeter, in a few days’ time.

The last time either side kicked a ball in anger in League Two was back on March 7, meaning that they will have both gone three-and-a-half months since their last competitive match by the time they line up against each other, at the Community Stadium.

Exeter might be glad, for they were winless in five matches, prior to the season being suspended.

The U’s, on the other hand, were convincing 3-0 winners at Carlisle United, in their last game.

But form will have little bearing on this semi-final.

With little to choose between two good sides, it will surely come down to which team wants it more, with the prospect of Wembley - and a glorious promotion - now tantalisingly close for the U's in this strangest of seasons.