Colchester United's season ended in defeat this afternoon after they were beaten 1-0 at promotion hopefuls Exeter City.

Robbie Simpson's header with 18 minutes remaining proved the difference between the two sides at St James Park, with the winning goal coming just 12 minutes after Sammie Szmodics had seen his penalty saved by keeper Christy Pym.

It was a disappointing way for Colchester's League Two campaign to end, albeit against an Exeter side who had already sealed their place in the play-offs.

The result means Colchester have finished 13th in the table, this season.

Colchester boss John McGreal made two changes to his starting line-up for their game against Exeter.

Ryan Gondoh was handed his first-ever professional league start for the U’s following his impressive performance on his debut as a substitute against Swindon Town, the previous week.

Sammie Szmodics was also recalled, with Drey Wright dropping to the bench and Ben Stevenson returning to parent club Wolves.

Ollie Sims was included among the substitutes for the first time for Colchester, having been promoted from their under-23s squad.

Exeter squandered a big chance to go ahead after 12 minutes.

Liam McAlinden captialised on Frankie Kent’s error in the area and lofted the ball over goalkeeper Dillon Barnes but Jordan Tillson was unable to convert from five yards with his shot hitting the roof of the net.

Barnes was then called into action two minutes later, pushing away Ryan Harley’s firm shot away to his left after McAlinden had run towards the U’s area.

Colchester’s best chance of the first half arrived soon after, when Gondoh fired a low left-foot strike just past the near post from 20 yards out.

But Exeter were the more dangerous of the two sides in the first half and only an intervention from Kent just in front of his own goal from Kyle Edwards’ cross into the box prevented what might have been a certain goal.

After a goal-less first half, Colchester made a change at half-time with Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe sent on for Mikael Mandron in attack.

Pierce Sweeney headed a deep cross just over at the far post for Exeter, before Colchester were presented with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on the hour mark.

Ogedi-Uzokwe was fouled in the area by Sweeney but Sammie Szmodics’ low penalty was saved by keeper Christy Pym and the chance was gone.

Szmodics, looking to atone for his miss, fired a good shot over from the edge of the area soon after.

But Colchester had a let off midway through the second half when Dean Moxey's fine low effort came back off the foot of the post for the hosts, before skipper Luke Prosser made a fine saving tackle to deny Robbie Simpson what looked like a certain goal in the six-yard box.

However, Colchester fell behind with 18 minutes remaining when Sweeney's delightful cross into the six yard box fell between Prosser and Kent and onto the head of Simpson who nodded in.

U's boss McGreal responded by sending on Tom Lapslie and Drey Wright for Senior and Murray and they almost grabbed an equaliser when Ogedi-Uzokwe’s looping effort was pushed over for a corner by the back-tracking Pym for a corner.

Skipper Luke Prosser's header from Ryan Jackson's ball into the area dropped just wide of the far post with four minutes remaining but Colchester could not avert defeat, on the final day.