A late penalty from former Colchester United defender Michael Rose denied his old club three vital points following a scrappy encounter at Morecambe this afternoon.

The play-off chasing U's had led for much of their first-ever visit to the Globe Arena, thanks to Richard Brindley's superb free-kick scored midway through the first half.

But with two minutes remaining, Rose converted from the spot after Colchester substitute Alex Wynter had fouled Antony Evans in the area, to prevent the visitors from securing a first away win of 2017.

The results leaves Colchester still two points off the play-off positions but with now three games remaining.

U’s head coach John McGreal wanted his side to make a fast start and they certainly did that.

Only some great defending by Morecambe defender Dean Winnard prevented Chris Porter from converting Tarique Fosu’s cross into the six yard box, inside the opening two minutes.

And a minute later, Shrimps keeper Danijel Nizic prevented Fosu from converting at the near post before Colchester’s goal was threatened for the first time when Aaron Wildig found space in the area before driving in a low shot that U’s keeper Sam Walker did well to save at his near post.

Morecambe went even closer to scoring in the ninth minute when Paul Mullin fired over from a good position after Kevin Ellison’s ball into the area had caused confusion in the U’s box.

And Colchester received a let-off soon after when Morecambe had the ball in the net after Ellison had tapped home following a long throw into the area.

The Shrimps continued to look the more threatening in the opening quarter and only a good reaction save from Walker to tip Mullin’s shot over prevented them from falling behind.

But just as the home side looked like they were getting on top, Colchester struck midway through the first half.

After Fosu had been fouled by Alex Whitmore 20 yards out, Brindley stepped up to curl a fine right-foot strike past Nizic and in, for his first goal of the season.

Colchester thought they should have had a penalty soon after when Fosu went down under Winnard’s challenge in the area.

But amid the U’s shouts for a penalty, the on-loan Reading winger was instead booked for simulation.

Brindley almost netted from a second free-kick just before half-time only to be denied by Nizic who plucked the ball out of the air from underneath his own crossbar, as the U’s went in at the break with a vital advantage.

Colchester came close to scoring again early in the second half when Wright’s deflected effort flashed over for a corner after skipper Chris Porter had laid the ball off to him in the area.

Indeed, the U’s looked in control as the second half progressed and Morecambe hardly threatened, as the contest became a scrappy affair.

Fosu missed a good opportunity to make it 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining when he fired over from five yards after Shrimps keeper Nizic had inexplicably dropped Sean Murray’s corner.

And when Rose scored from the spot with two minutes of normal time remaining, it denied Colchester what would have been a precious away win.