Colchester United head coach John McGreal was left frustrated after seeing his side concede a late goal to lose 1-0 to Gillingham in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight.

Max Ehmer's stoppage-time free-kick saw the U's lose 1-0 to their League One opponents in the Group B clash at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The result means Colchester have to win their final group game at Southend United next month to have any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition and McGreal was left disappointed.

McGreal said: "It was disappointing to lose to a late goal, in that manner.

"It was similar to last week against Grimsby where we give other teams opportunities to have shots on our goal and we gave away a silly free-kick.

"It was a tight game and they came here with a game plan - they've lost a few games of late and one or two other things going on at the club as well.

"Have we done enough to win it? Possibly not but we have to learn.

"We should be coming away from games like this with something out of it.

"We had opportunities but we have to regroup and go again.

"It had been a good week up until now and we have to get ourselves on the front foot again ready for Saturday."

There were some positives for Colchester, with striker Kurtis Guthrie continuing his injury comeback by playing the opening 45 minutes and Craig Slater returning for the first time in seven weeks after coming on as a second-half substitute.

"It was brilliant that Kurtis got 45 minutes and he can build on that now," said McGreal.

"He wants to play more and we have to be careful with him.

"Slats has come on late on at a time when we're wanting to be getting hold of the ball and dictate the play a little bit, so they're the two shining lights out of the game."