Colchester United will go into the final day of the season a point adrift of safety after drawing 1-1 with Swindon Town tonight.

The U's came agonisingly close to winning their vital game in hand, after Chris Porter's header came back off a post in the closing stages.

But Colchester were unable to muster a winner and now go into the Preston North End clash on Sunday needing to get something, in order to stay in League One.

Colchester made a dream start when they took the lead after just 37 seconds.

After Richard Brindley had crossed from the right, Jacob Murphy was on hand to tap home from close range to give Colchester the perfect start.

The U’s were red hot in the opening stages and Swindon looked stunned.

Alex Gilbey’s 25-yard effort flew just over, while Massey danced past two defenders in the area before dragging a shot just wide.

Swindon went close in the tenth minute when the lively Nathan Byrne darted towards goal before firing in a low shot that was comfortably saved by keeper Sam Walker.

But it was Colchester who looked the more dangerous of the two sides, particularly when Murphy and Massey were in possession.

They refused to allow Swindon to settle on the ball and almost made it 2-0 when George Moncur’s half-volley sailed just over, while Chris Porter fired a shot straight at keeper Wes Foderingham.

The contest continued to be an open one, with Gilbey agonisingly close to doubling the U’s lead midway through the first half with a diving header that sailed over from Richard Brindley’s cross.

But Swindon came agonisingly close to equalising on the half hour when Walker made a superb reflex save to push Byrne’s fierce close-range effort over the bar for a corner.

The chances continued to come before half-time; Porter headed straight at Foderingham from Massey’s corner, while Moncur scuffed a shot at the keeper after more great play by Murphy.

But the last action of the half came at the other end, when Walker made a superb save to push away Andy Williams’ fine shot.

A sweeping move resulted in Massey blasting over in the opening seconds of the second half, while Jack Stephens cleared from under the Swindon bar after Foderingham had parried a deflected effort.

But Town also looked dangerous and after Andy Williams’ shot had been deflected just wide, Ben Gladwin glanced home Yasser Kasim’s corner to equalise, eight minutes after the break.

Walker made a fine save to deny Massimo Luongo midway through the second half while at the other end, Moncur and Porter both went close to restoring the U's lead.

Colchester came desperately close to scoring a winner with six minutes remaining when Porter's header came back off a post from Fox's pass but the winner would not come.

For full coverage of the U's game with Swindon, see Wednesday's Daily Gazette.