Colchester United took their play-off hunt to the final day, after an impressive 2-0 win against promotion contenders MK Dons.

Goals at the start of each half from Sammie Szmodics and Frankie Kent ensured that a confident U's collected all three points and they could have had more than the two goals they finished with.

A late Exeter goal meant that things stayed as they were, with the U's two points off seventh, but there's all to play for in the trip to Lincoln next Saturday.

The U's enjoyed the perfect start to the game as, after the second of two early corners was cleared only as far as Szmodics, he rifled home a low finish into the bottom corner.

It was the start of a frantic beginning to teh game, and Nouble was presented with a great chance by Szmodics, but his placed shot under pressure from Houghton was an easy save for the keeper.

Szmodics was almost in the right place at the right time, but Nouble's cross was just behind him.

Szmodics then turned provider and it was on its way to Nouble, but it went through Houghton's legs and beyond the U's man.

And, in what was a first positive first quarter to the game, Nouble got in on goal but pulled his shot on the angle wide of the far post.

The Dons' first sight of goal came on 28 minutes, when it fell to McGrandles, but he pulled his effort off target.

And they went closer sixty seconds later, when Wheeler was first onto a cross from the right, but it smacked off the face of the bar.

Having sustained plenty of Dons pressure in the subsequent fifteen minutes, the U's nearly made it two just before half time.

Senior nicked the ball, burst forward fifty yards and bore down on the goalkeeper, but Nicholls stood strong to palm away his shot.

Having started the first half with a goal in two minutes, they got a second three minutes after the restart.

It started and finished with great work from Kent. He stepped in to win the ball in the U's box and drove forward to the halfway line.

The centre half followed the ball fortward and was on hand to calmly slot home Szmodics' cross with a first time finish.

It was a fine start to the half and Szmodics was first denied by a great block from Martin and, from the resulting corner, hit a volley similar to his first half goal that was deflected inches wide of the target.

The visitors went close when a shot across the face of goal was deflected just wide, but the U's stood strong to the two set pieces that followed, before Aneke headed the ball well off target. 

The U's made their first change of the game on 72 minutes when Mandron replaced Eisa, with Nouble moving out wide.

The home side should have sealed the game when Senior got away, but the keeper again stood strong to deny him.

The visitors thought they had a route back into the game when Agard converted after Aneke's shot hit the post, but their celebrations were cut short by the linesman's flag.

The U's introduced Luke Norris as injury time got underway, and he tested Nicholls with a fierce shot, but the keeper stood firm.

And whilst the Dons threw numerous crosses into the box, the U's dealt with them admirably to ensure another clean sheet and three vital points.

If you're all going to Lincoln, clap your hands...

Att: 5,000 (1,007 away)