Calvin Zola's second-half strike proved enough to boost Crewe's survival hopes and dent Colchester's play-off aspirations in the process.

Colchester edged the first half but were unable to find an opener, Marc Tierney clipping against the post and keeper John Ruddy denying Kem Izzet.

And it was Crewe who broke the deadlock when Zola latched on to Clayton Donaldson's pass to fire home.

Zola and Donaldson almost added to the lead as Colchester struggled to rally.

Colchester

: Cousins, Maybury (Wordsworth 83), Coyne, Baldwin, Tierney, Yeates, Perkins, Hammond, Izzet (Jackson 69), Hackney (Vernon 40), Platt.
Subs Not Used: Gerken, White.

Crewe : Ruddy, Baudet, Lawrence, Broomes, Brayford, Woodards (Schumacher 46), Sigurdsson, Jones, Grant (Moore 90), Zola, Donaldson.
Subs Not Used: Collis, O'Donnell, Miller.

Booked : Sigurdsson.

Goals : Zola 63.

Att : 4,907

Ref : David Phillips (West Sussex).

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