COLCHESTER United secured their League Two status this afternoon after a 1-1 home draw with play-off bound Crewe Alexandra.

The U's will remain in the Football League after drawing with Alex in front of a crowd of nearly 6,500 at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Noah Chilvers' fine first-half goal gave Colchester the lead and although Elliott Nevitt equalised in stoppage-time for Alex, it could not prevent the hosts from achieving their objective.

The draw meant that Sutton United's 4-4 draw at MK Dons was academic, as the U's achieved their task of needing a point to stay up.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made one change to his starting line-up, for their final game of the season.

Fiacre Kelleher returned at the heart of the U’s defence, with Riley Harbottle dropping to the bench.

There was so much at stake at kick-off but Colchester showed little sign of nerves, in the early stages.

The U’s went close when Chilvers' cross agonisingly eluded two on-rushing U's players, before seconds later Jayden Fevrier planted a weak shot straight at Crewe goalkeeper Max Stryjek.

Arthur Read’s shot flew straight at Stryjek soon after before Colchester took a precious 35th-minute lead.

Chilvers collected Ellis Iandolo’s pass and brilliantly turned past Ryan Cooney just inside the Crewe half before advancing towards goal and unleashing a fine low shot past Stryjek at his near post.

It was a fine solo strike and gave Colchester a vital lead but Crewe looked for an immediate response and almost got on when Matus Holicek planted a weak shot straight at goalkeeper Sam Hornby from a good position in the area.

News of Sutton conceding twice at MK Dons helped the jubilant mood, as Colchester went in at the break ahead.

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Crewe boss Lee Bell made a double change at the break as he looked for a route back into the game for his side.

And Alex did have a decent opportunity when Rio Adebisi blasted a shot over the bar at the near post, after the visitors had worked their way into the U's area.

Crewe had a penalty shout rejected when Micky Demetriou appeared to be pulled back by Kelleher in the area but at the other end, Stryjek was forced to push away Chilvers' shot into the ground after it had looped towards goal.

Elliott Nevitt's 25-yard strike flew just wide of the target for Alex as the clock ticked down.

Colchester were heading for a win to finish the season but Crewe grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser when Nevitt converted substitute Charlie Kirk's low cross at the near post.

The final few minutes were played out at walking pace with both teams content with a point, as the U's sealed their place in the EFL.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Hornby, Mingi, Kelleher, Hall, Iandolo, Read, Chilvers, McGeehan, Fevrier, Akinde (sub Harbottle, 68), Hopper.

Subs (not used): Richardson, Cooper, Wilkinson, Jay, Ihionvien, Goodman.

Crewe Alexandra: Stryjek, Cooney (sub Kirk, 81), Adebisi, Williams, Demetriou, Long (sub Rowe, 46), Tabinor, Holicek (sub Austerfield, 46), Nevitt, Billington, Tracey (sub Baker-Richardson, 70).

Subs (not used): Lenarcik, Finney, Kirk, Agius.

Goals: Colchester: Chilvers (35). Crewe: Nevitt (90).

Bookings: Colchester: Kelleher (foul, 62). Crewe: Long (foul, 49).

Referee: Lewis Smith.

Attendance: 6,491 (512 Crewe fans).