COLCHESTER United have pulled off the great escape and are staying in League One.

George Moncur’s 82nd-minute goal gave them a heroic 1-0 victory at home to promotion-chasing Preston North End.

Their fantastic win saw the club clamber out of the relegation zone – against all the odds – and avoid dropping into League Two.

And their amazing survival was greeted with scenes of euphoria and jubilation at a packed Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Moncur’s precious winner came eight minutes from time after a pass from Chris Porter, who atoned for an earlier penalty miss that looked like it could prove costly.

Instead, Moncur picked his spot with a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner to spark scenes of wild celebration.

It completed a perfect afternoon for Colchester, who finished their season in real style – unbeaten in four and defeated just twice in their final ten fixtures.

The match had started at a frantic pace, as expected, on a greasy, zippy surface.

The only half-chance in the early stages was a header by Joel Garner, from Daniel Johnson’s deep cross, that was easily gathered by U’s keeper Sam Walker.

News then filtered through that MK Dons were in front against Yeovil, meaning Preston needed to win to gain the second automatic promotion spot and go up with champions Bristol City.

That raised the stakes but it was Colchester who went on to fashion the best chance of the half, thanks to a venomous low effort from Richard Brindley.

The right-back let fly with an effort that took a deflection before being turned behind by diving keeper Simon Johnstone.

With Crewe losing at Bradford, things looked encouraging at for Tony Humes’ side but there a scare before the break when Paul Huntington connected with a free-kick but headed just over Walker’s bar.

Jacob Murphy, who had looked a threat from the start, then hooked one last effort over the onrushing Johnstone – only to see his effort drop wide of the right-hand post.

It would have been a spectacular way to open the scoring.

Eastman, in heroic form, made another huge contribution at the start of the second half, sliding in to make a last-ditch tackle on Jermaine Beckford.

And the defender then went close with a header from David Fox’s free-kick.

However, his effort flashed over the bar.

Crawley were now in front at home to Coventry but Colchester’s task remained the same – to win their game. Their fate was in their own hands.

They were given a golden chance just before the hour-mark, when Moncur was brought down by keeper Johnstone.

Porter stepped forward to take the spot-kick but lashed his effort way over the bar.

The odds were now stacked against Humes’ men and, with other results conspiring against them, even a win would leave them entrenched in the bottom four.

They nearly broke the deadlock when Murphy broke clear down the left but his low effort from a tight angle was turned behind by Johnstone.

Moncur drove an effort straight at the Preston keeper, after being fed by Murphy, when he would have done better to pass to the unmarked Massey.

However, a Coventry equaliser against Crewe changed the dynamic once again as it meant a win for Colchester would hoist them out of the bottom four.

The precious goal then followed and, amazingly, they went close again after their goal but substitute Sammie Szmodics’ saw an effort saved by Johnstone.

In the end, though, one goal was enough and the U’s are staying up – news that sparked a mass pitch invasion at the final whistle.

U’s: Walker, Khumalo, Gilbey, Briggs, Eastman, Massey, Moncur, Murphy, Brindley, Fox, Porter.

Subs: Szmodics (Gilbey 80), Sembie-Ferris (Murphy 80), Wynter (Massey 90).

Not used: Lewington, Healey, Bonne, Lapslie.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Attendance: 8, 413 (2,969 Preston fans).