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Cheltenham gave their promotion hopes a major boost by pulling off a 2-0 victory at promotion rivals Colchester.

The duo are in the thick of the League Two play-off race, with the Robins starting fifth and John McGreal's men five points behind in sixth.

But goals from Alfie May and Chris Hussey moved Cheltenham up to fourth - one point off the automatic promotion spots - while the hosts slipped a point outside the top seven.

There was little between the teams until the opening goal, when May sprung the offside trap and got on the end of Chris Clements' pass. He coolly slid the ball under Dean Gerken, who got something on the shot but was unable to prevent it spinning into the U's net.

Colchester huffed and puffed, without looking likely to snatch an equaliser.

And they suffered a body-blow 11 minutes from time when Hussey added Cheltenham's second. The defender whipped in a free-kick from the right and the ball had such power that it evaded everyone and nestled into the far top corner.

Colchester's Omar Sowunmi was sent off in stoppage time after being shown a second yellow card.

Match report supplied by PA Media.