91Èȱ¬

Mike Jones' goal was enough to keep Crawley's slim League One play-off hopes alive with victory over strugglers Colchester United.

U's keeper Sam Walker saved from Billy Clarke and Jones, who then finished off Clarke's ball over the top.

The visitors twice hit the woodwork in the second half, Sanchez Watt heading against the bar before Dominic Vose hit the post.

Crawley are 15 points adrift of the play-offs but have four games in hand.

Colchester are 17th, but just two points above the relegation zone.

Crawley assistant manager Guy Whittingham told 91Èȱ¬ Sussex:

"You're always happy when you win, and you're always happy when you put in a 'grinding' performance. It's a great result to have with a clean sheet. That's what you're after.

"We had a long break, and then to come back and win the games we won straight away was a huge achievement, so to get back to winning ways was good timing, especially with a tough game against Wolves coming up."

Colchester United manager Joe Dunne told 91Èȱ¬ Essex:

"They had the first half, we had the second. I thought it was a fantastic response in the second half.

"It's another defeat unfortunately - we can't start games like we did today.

"We are making opportunities, we are just not taking them at the moment. We have to keep believing in ourselves.

"The players are trying exceptionally hard. It hurts them. They don't like losing. We are on a bit of a difficult run."