Colchester United defeated Grimsby Town in League Two

Goals from Tom Hopper and John Akinde secured the U's a vital victory at the JobServe Community Stadium, leaving them four points above the relegation zone with three games of their season remaining.

It was a huge performance and win for Danny Cowley and his team, who recorded back to back wins for only the second time this season, in League Two.

Tom Dallison was shown a straight red card for a foul on Justin Obikwu in stoppage-time but that could not tarnish a great evening for Colchester, a result that relegates Forest Green Rovers to the National League.

Colchester made one change to their starting line-up, with Akinde recalled up front in place of Noah Chilvers, who dropped to the bench.

In a vital game, the U’s were looking to make a good start and they were ahead in the fifth minute.

Tom Hopper ran onto Arthur Read's excellent pass and coolly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Jake Eastwood and into the net, for his third goal in two games.

Seemingly not content with their opener, Colchester immediately went in search of more goals.

Midway through the first half, Cameron McGeehan's low strike from 20 yards flashed just past the post after good approach play by Alistair Smith.

But Grimsby warmed to the task and began to look increasingly dangerous.

Just after the half hour mark, Mariners’ attacker Donovan Wilson skipped past three challenges before drilling in a low shot that deflected wide for a corner.

But at the other end, Colchester came close to doubling their lead when Doug Tharme brilliantly nodded Jayden Fevrier's goalbound effort off the line, after a sweeping U's move.

However, Grimsby kept knocking on the door and almost equalised in first-half stoppage-time when Jay Mingi made a crucial block to deny Justin Obikwu what looked a certain goal from point blank range.

It meant Colchester went in at the break ahead and the hosts were forced into a change at the interval, with Chilvers sent on for the injured Alistair Smith.

Grimsby started the second half well and thought they should have had a penalty when Justin Obikwu went down under Tom Dallison's challenge in the area but the visiting player was booked for simulation.

But Colchester could easily have doubled their lead on the hour when Fevrier's cross-shot flashed inches past the far post, after Akinde had done well to pick out the winger's run.

But Grimsby almost equalised with 17 minutes remaining when Harry Clifton's downward header from Donovan Wilson's cross dropped inches past the far post.

Colchester gave themselves some much-needed breathing space in the 79th minute though when Akinde lifted a shot into the far corner of the net from just inside the area from Chilvers' pass, to double the hosts' lead.

Colchester goalkeeper Sam Hornby made a brilliant save to push over substitute Harry Wood's effort soon after and Dallison was shown a straight red card in the closing stages but the U's claimed a vital win.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Hornby, Mingi, Hall, Dallison, Smith (sub Chilvers, 46), Read, Iandolo, Fevrier (sub Richardson, 90), McGeehan, Hopper, Akinde (sub Harbottle, 82).

Subs (not used): Wilkinson, Jay, Ihonvien, Goodman.

Grimsby Town: Eastwood, Smith (sub Eisa, 78), Green, Rogers, Thompson (sub Wood, 66), Tharme, Mullarkey, Clifton, Vernam, Obikwu, Wilson.

Subs (not used): Auton, Ainley, Andrews, Maher, Hume.

Goals: Colchester: Hopper (5), Akinde (79).

Bookings: Colchester: Hornby (unsporting behaviour, 73), Iandolo (foul, 75). Grimsby: Obikwu (simulation, 48).

Red card: Dallison (serious foul play, 90).

Referee: Carl Brook.

Attendance: 4,350 (440 Grimsby fans).