COLCHESTER United were beaten 2-1 at home by Wrexham in front of a near capacity crowd this afternoon.

Goals from Max Cleworth and Paul Mullin condemned the U's to their first home defeat under the Cowleys, after John Akinde had fired them ahead just after half-time.

The result leaves Colchester a point adrift of safety in League Two, with six games remaining.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made two changes to his starting line-up.

John Akinde and Tom Dallison came into the team in place of Jayden Fevrier and Bradley Ihionvien, who dropped to the bench.

Colchester produced an impressive first-half performance and looked the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock, before the break.

The U’s had a big penalty shout rejected in the 13th minute when Jay Mingi tumbled under Jacob Mendy’s challenge in the area but referee Tom Reeves waved away the hosts’ claims.

Colchester then came close to scoring three minutes later through skipper Connor Hall, who lifted a first-time shot over the bar after John Akinde had challenged Arthur Okonkwo in the area and the Wrexham keeper had failed to hold onto the ball.

On the half hour mark, Akinde headed over from close range from Cameron McGeehan’s inswinging corner and a few minutes later, Alistair Smith fired over from a decent position in the area after Harry Anderson had neatly laid the ball off to him, as the U’s pressed.

McGeehan’s low strike from the edge of the area was well held by Okonkwo but Wrexham went close just before half-time when top scorer Paul Mullin slid a shot wide from close range, after a good break by the visitors orchestrated by former Colchester loanee, Elliot Lee.

The teams went in goal-less at the break but Colchester needed only eight minutes after the break to go ahead.

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Hopper and McGeehan combined well to carve out a chance for Akinde, who fired a low shot clinically past Okonkwo from just inside the area.

It lifted the bumper crowd but the lead only lasted eight minutes.

After Ryan Barnett had crossed from the right, Mullin was allowed to head past Owen Goodman unmarked, for his 100th Wrexham goal.

And Cleworth then nodded in Wrexham's winner in the 85th minute from George Evans' throw into the box, to condemn the U's to defeat.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Goodman, Mingi, Hall, Dallison (sub Jay, 89), Anderson, Iandolo (sub Fevrier, 67), Smith (sub Chilvers, 80), Read, McGeehan, Hopper (sub Ihionvien, 89), Akinde (sub Tovide, 67).

Subs (not used): Kelleher, Hornby.

Wrexham: Okonkwo, Evans, O’Connell, Cannon, O’Connor, McClean, Barnett (sub Bolton, 83), Cleworth, Mendy (sub Lee, 34), Mullin (sub Marriott, 83), Fletcher (sub Palmer, 66).

Subs (not used): Tozer, Davies, Howard.

Goals: Colchester: Akinde (54). Wrexham: Mullin (62), Cleworth (85).

Bookings: Wrexham: Evans (foul, 29).

Referee: Tom Reeves.

Attendance: 8,432 (1,278 Wrexham fans).