COLCHESTER United threw away a two-goal lead and were beaten 3-2 by League One basement boys Crewe Alexandra tonight.

The U’s had looked on course to end their losing streak thanks to goals either side of half-time from Callum Harriott – a brilliant long-range effort - and George Moncur.

However, Crewe pulled one back on the hour-mark through Ryan Colclough and grabbed a dramatic leveller 11 minutes from time, scored by Marcus Haber.

Substitute Ryan Lowe then chipped keeper Jamie Jones in the 93rd minute, amid crazy scenes at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The U’s had been looking to buck an unwanted trend of three straight defeats and six losses in their last eight, prior to kick-off.

And like their hosts, Crewe went into the match on the back of a turgid run, losing their last three and winning just three times all season.

They started rock bottom of the table, with just 13 wins from their 18 games.

Watched by their smallest crowd of the season, just 2,602, Colchester made four changes to their starting line-up, following Saturday’s dismal 4-1 defeat at Millwall.

Frankie Kent, Matt Briggs, Tom Lapslie and Chris Porter returned at the expense of George Elokobi (bench), Alex Gilbey (suspended), Macauley Bonne (bench) and Marvin Sordell (injured).

It was Colchester who made by far the brighter start and they went close in the 11th minute.

Lapslie’s fierce shot inadvertently hit team-mate Porter and ballooned over the Crewe bar.

Moncur then spun in the box and then fired a shot just wide of right-hand post.

Colchester were very much on top in the early stages, playing with real tempo, pressing and not letting their visitors settle.

However, Crewe gradually grew into the game and started creating chances of their own.

Colclough’s low shot from distance skimmed the outside of the left-hand post.

And the visitors went close again when Colclough weaved his way into the area and pulled the ball back for Haber, whose low shot was turned behind by goalkeeper Jamie Jones.

Jones then came to Colchester’s rescue again with a smart double save to deny Billy Bingham, from long range, and Haber again.

And the U’s goalkeeper, suddenly in the thick of the action, was called on once again to keep out a drilled effort from Crewe namesake James Jones.

Just when it looked like the Railwaymen might break the deadlock, Colchester opened the scoring with a wonderful goal from Harriott.

The wide man cut in from the right and let fly with an unstoppable long-range effort that went in via the underside of the bar.

Colchester’s second came right at the start of the second half.

A corner caused chaos in the Crewe box and when Tom Eastman’s shot was blocked on the line by Bingham, Moncur pounced to make it 2-0.

However, any thoughts of a comfortable second half were dismissed just after the hour-mark when Colclough volleyed home from ten yards, after Oliver Turton’s cross was knocked into his path by Haber.

Crewe made it all-square 11 minutes from time when Colclough fed substitute Lowe and his pull-back from the right was turned in by Haber.

And Crewe completed an amazing night with a winning goal by Lowe in the 93rd minute.

The 37-year-old chipped keeper Jones from 20 yards - sparking an angry reaction from Colchester fans and cries from some of "Humes out".