Colchester United's play-off hopes suffered a blow after they were beaten 1-0 at Grimsby Town.

Sam Jones' tap-in late in the first half condemned the U's to defeat on their first visit to Blundell Park in more than 13 years.

Colchester made two changes for their game at Grimsby, in front of 141 U's fans who had made the trip up from North Essex, Kurtis Guthrie was ruled out with an ankle injury and Richard Brindley also missed out, after limping out of the U’s win over Hartlepool United last weekend.

The pair had been Colchester’s most regular outfield performers in the league this season, missing only one game between them before last night.

Into the Colchester side came Drey Wright and Tarique Fosu, who started for the first time since their 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Crawley Town on February 14.

There was a welcome return on the bench for left-back Lewis Kinsella, who had not played since injuring his ankle against Newport County last October.

The contest started at a quick tempo and Colchester, finding their way in to the game in the closing stages with new personnel, were almost ahead inside ten minutes.

After skipper Chris Porter had headed down into his path, Fosu let fly with a spectacular 25-yard strike that rattled the post with goalkeeper James McKeown beaten.

Colchester looked the more dangerous of the two sides in the first half and the lively Fosu came close to scoring again midway through the first half when he found space in the area from Cameron James’ short pass and drilled in a low shot that McKeown saved well with his feet.

Brennan Dickenson then fired a first-time shot wide from Owen Garvan’s short corner, as the U’s went close with a move straight off the training ground.

Grimsby had their moments though and Jones burst through the midfield before unleashing a low 25-yard effort that sailed wide of the post, before the hosts took the lead two minutes before the break.

Jones, who had dispossessed Owen Garvan just inside the U’s half, tapped in from two yards after being fed by Calum Dyson who had made progress in the box.

It was hard luck on Colchester, who had been the better side in the first half and they started the second period brightly.

Grimsby full-back Zak Mills made an important goalmouth clearance to deny Tom Lapslie after the U’s midfielder had burst into the area, while Porter came agonisingly close to connecting with Brennan Dickenson’s low cross seconds later.

George Elokobi headed just wide of the far post following Garvan’s free-kick into the area and although U's keeper Sam Walker saved Chris Clements' free-kick at the other end midway through the second half, the visitors were well in the game.

Rekeil Pyke and Kane Vincent-Young were sent on in the closing stages in an attempt to secure an equaliser and Vincent-Young tested McKeown late on but the U’s were beaten.