COLCHESTER United were left to rue missed opportunities after they fell to a 1-0 defeat at a resurgent Grimsby Town side.

Wes Thomas’s well-taken strike just past the midway point in the first half proved the difference between the two sides at Blundell Park, as the U’s failed to make it three League Two wins in a row.

John McGreal will no look back on Luke Norris’s missed chance when through on goal in the first half, along with Courtney Senior’s header that came back off the woodwork after half-time.

McGreal had opted to keep the same side that started their game at Morecambe, last weekend.

Sammie Szmodics was again ruled out with a leg injury that saw him miss the U’s win at the Globe Arena.

There was a change on the bench for Colchester though, with Ryan Gondoh among the substitutes in place of Ollie Kensdale.

Colchester started brightly and had a shot on goal inside the opening minute, with Harry Pell firing well wide from long range against his former club.

But Grimsby came even closer to scoring a minute later, with U’s keeper Rene Gilmartin making a good save from close range to deny Charles Vernam after the home forward had latched onto Thomas’s mis-hit shot.

Vernan’s fierce cross-shot flashed just over the far post from a tight angle soon after as Grimsby pressed.

But Colchester had a great chance to take a 20th minute lead through leading scorer Norris, who pounced on Mitch Rose’s mistake only to be denied by keeper James McKeown, after racing through on goal.

Frank Nouble headed just over a few seconds later and just before the half hour, a header from Frankie Kent – making his 100th league appearance - dropped just wide after he got on the end of Senior's in-swinging free-kick into the box which keeper McKeown had only partially punched clear.

Kent then headed a difficult chance wide from Ryan Jackson’s long throw but Grimsby enjoyed some good pressure after that, culminating in Gilmartin easily parrying Elliot Embleton’s tame effort after the midfielder had weaved his way towards goal.

Pell’s fierce effort flew wide of goal in the closing stages of the first half, as the sides went in level at the break.

Pell was in the thick of the action in the opening minutes of the second half too, seeing his deflected low shot fly inches wide.

And Colchester came even closer to taking the lead just before the hour when Senior nodded against the woodwork, following a deep cross by the impressive Kane Vincent-Young.

Norris’s first-time effort then flew wide of the far post but the U’s fell behind with 25 minutes remaining.

Thomas pounced on Jackson’s loose pass and advanced towards goal before finishing smartly low past Gilmartin.

The goal prompted U’s boss McGreal to make a double change, sending on Brennan Dickenson and Mikael Mandron for Jackson and Norris and moving Vincent-Young to right wing-back.

Senior’s near-post header dropped inches wide from Vincent-Young’s cross, as Colchester responded positively to going behind.

Kent scuffed a shot just wide from a cross from Dickenson who also fired over as the clock ticked down but Grimsby held out.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gilmartin, Prosser, Eastman, Kent, Jackson (sub Dickenson, 69), Lapslie (sub Wright, 76), Pell, Vincent-Young, Nouble, Senior, Norris (sub Mandron, 69).

Substitutes (not used): Comley, Collins, Gondoh, Barnes.

Colchester United goals: None.

Grimsby Town goals: Thomas (65)

Colchester United bookings: Prosser (foul, 18), Vincent-Young (foul, 54).

Grimsby Town bookings: None.

Colchester United sent off: None.

Grimsby Town sent off: None.

U’s man of the match: Kane Vincent-Young.

Attendance: 3,662 (127 U’s fans).

Grimsby Town: McKeown, Hall-Johnson, Collins, M Rose, Hooper, Clifton, Embleton (sub Famewo, 88), Whitmore, Hendrie, Thomas, Hopper (sub Hessenthaler, 59), Vernam (sub Welsh, 85).

Substitutes (not used): Cook, A Rose, Russell, Pringle.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire) – 7.

Next up: Colchester United v Lincoln City, League Two, Saturday, 3pm.