Steven Gillespie said referee Darren Sheldrake admitted making a “massive mistake” after disallowing his goal at Charlton Athletic.

Colchester United were cruelly denied a legitimate goal at the Valley on Tuesday night, after the Surrey-based official twice chalked off striker Gillespie’s close-range strike.

Having blown his whistle, Sheldrake initially changed his mind and allowed the effort to stand, following a long consultation with his assistant, who had not raised his flag.

But just before the game was due to re-start, an intervention by the fourth official resulted in Sheldrake disallowing the goal again and awarding a drop ball.

Colchester’s players protestations fell on deaf ears and they went on to eventually lose the game 1-0, against one of their League One promotion rivals.

Gillespie told the Gazette: “The referee was apologetic immediately afterwards.

“He openly said to me at the time that he’d made a massive mistake but it cost us.

“It was devastating, because it took away what would have been a great three points, which would have taken us up to seventh and back in contention.

“If Charlton go up or get into the play-offs at the end of the season because of that result, it will affect other teams, too.”

For more on this story and more Colchester United news, see Thursday's Gazette.