A LATE goal from Conor Thomas condemned Colchester United to a 1-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Cheltenham Town this afternoon.

The U’s looked like they were heading for a hard-earned point at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium before Thomas converted an 83rd-minute winner to win it for the hosts.

It means Colchester have not yet secured their League Two status for next season, following Grimsby Town's win at Oldham Athletic and Southend United's victory over Leyton Orient, this afternoon.

It was a disappointing outcome for Colchester interim boss Hayden Mullins, who had named the same team for the third successive match.

There were changes on the bench though, with Junior Tchamadeu and Josh Bohui among the substitutes for Jevani Brown and Courtney Senior.

Cheltenham looked the more threatening of the two sides in the first half, with former U’s loanee Ben Tozer’s long throw proving particularly dangerous.

It was a quiet opening quarter but Cheltenham, pushing for automatic promotion, began to warm to the task after that.

The Robins went close midway through the first half when Finn Azaz dribbled towards the edge of the U’s box before trying his luck with a left-foot shot that goalkeeper Shamal George got down low to save.

And just before the half hour mark, Sam Smith’s header was cleared off the line by Noah Chilvers following a long throw from Tozer, whose deliver into the box proved the hosts’ best weapon, in the first half.

Cheltenham felt Colchester should have been reduced to ten men five minutes before the break when a challenge by their former midfielder Harry Pell on Smith left the Cheltenham player lying prostrate on the ground, prompting anger from the home side.

The U’s skipper was duly booked and Colchester almost conceded just before half-time when Smith’s header from Hussey’s ball into the box pushed away by George for a corner.

But the sides went in at the break goal-less and Cheltenham picked up with the same tempo in the early stages of the second half.

Matty Blair’s goalbound shot from 14 yards was brilliantly blocked by Miles Welch-Hayes after good play by Azaz had created the chance, as the hosts pushed to break the deadlock.

Cheltenham continued to press; Smith’s curled first-time effort from the edge of the area flew wide of the target after good play by Liam Sercombe had set him up.

Colchester sent on Aramide Oteh for Michael Folivi just after the hour but it was the hosts who looked more likely to grab a winner, as the clock ticked down.

And the Robins finally made the breakthrough in the 83rd minute when Thomas forced the ball over the line from close range, after George had initially denied Charlie Raglan from close range following a corner.

Cheltenham almost wrapped up victory with four minutes remaining when Callum Wright denied first by the near post and then by George from close range, as the substitute tried to make it safe.

George made a fine double save to deny both May and Wright in quick succession late on and Colchester were unable to find an equaliser, as they fell to defeat.

COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Welch-Hayes, Eastman, Smith, Clampin, Chilvers, Pell, Wiredu (sub Stevenson, 84), Harriott, Folivi (sub Oteh, 63), Nouble.

Subs (not used): Sowunmi, Tchamadeu, Lapslie, Bohui, Gerken.

Cheltenham Town: Griffiths, Long, Hussey, Tozer, Raglan, Thomas, Azaz (sub Wright, 75), Lloyd (sub Williams, 64), Sercombe, Blair, Smith (sub May, 64).

Subs (not used): Freestone, Chapman, Vassilev, Flinders.

Referee: Paul Howard.

U’s man of the match: Shamal George. 

Goals: Cheltenham Town: Thomas (83).

Bookings: Colchester Pell (foul, 40), Smith (foul, 89). Cheltenham: Long (foul, 20), Blair (foul, 86).