COLCHESTER United bowed out of the Vertu Trophy at the last 16 stage after a stoppage-time goal by substitute George Miller gave Cheltenham Town a 2-1 victory at Whaddon Road.

Miller converted from a yard out after U's goalkeeper Matt Macey had inexplicably dropped Luke Young's corner, as the visitors were knocked out.

Lyle Taylor had earlier levelled for Colchester just before half-time, after Tom Pett had given the Robins an early lead.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made three changes to his starting line-up for the game at Cheltenham.

Left-back Ellis Iandolo returned from suspension and Harry Anderson and Fiacre Kelleher were recalled.

Frankie Terry and Oscar Thorn dropped to the bench, while Aaron Donnelly left to join Dundee last week.

Colchester were looking to make a good start but they were behind in only the third minute – and it was a highly avoidable goal to concede.

Tom Pett skilfully lifted the ball over the stranded Macey from 25 yards, after the U's keeper's attempted clearance had been closed down by the alert Ashley Hay.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

It was an early blow for Colchester and they almost fell further behind six minutes later when defender Tom Bradbury headed wide at the far post for the hosts, from Sam Stubbs' deep cross.

Colchester’s first meaningful effort arrived in the 19th minute – and it was a good opportunity.

Jack Payne fired disappointingly straight at goalkeeper Joe Day from a decent position, after Teddy Bishop had made an excellent driving run towards goal.

The U’s went close again in the 26th minute when Cheltenham defender Arkell Jude-Boyd carelessly conceded possession inside his own half and Taylor curled a first-time effort curled just past the post.

And Taylor spurned a decent opportunity soon after when he a first-time shot over the bar from close range, after Mandela Egbo had done well to get down to the byline and deliver a cross.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

The chances kept coming for Colchester in the first half and Owura Edwards’ left-foot strike flashed inches past the near post, while the U’s winger also lifted a shot over the bar just before half-time.

But the U’s were finally level in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Taylor emphatically fired past Day for his tenth goal of the season, after Macey’s long ball forward had dissected the Cheltenham defence.

It was well-deserved goal and meant the U's went in level at the break but they were forced to make a change at half-time, with Terry replacing the injured Iandolo at left-back.

Colchester started the second half brightly but Macey was called into action to make a brilliant save five minutes after half-time when he leapt to tip Miller's fine header away for a corner.

But at the other end, Kelleher's header from a corner was headed away from near his own goal-line by Sam Stubbs and with 20 minutes remaining, substitute Tom Hopper was inches away from connecting with Egbo's low cross, after Payne's pass had set the right-back away.

The tie looked like it was heading for penalties until Miller netted in stoppage-time, to dump Colchester out of the competition and end their Wembley dream.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Macey, Egbo, Kelleher, Flanagan, Iandolo (sub Terry, 46), McDonnell, Bishop (sub Read, 81), Anderson (sub Thorn, 77), Payne, Edwards (sub Gordon, 77), Taylor (sub Hopper, 65).

Substitutes (not used): Goodliffe, Smith.

Cheltenham Town: Day, Jude-Boyd (sub Power, 85), Kinsella, Young, Hay, Bradbury (sub Adedokun, 16), Thomas, Bennett, Archer, Stubbs, Pett (sub Miller, 46).

Substitutes (not used): Diallo, Bakare, Bowman, Taylor.

Referee: David Rock.

Goals: Colchester: Taylor (45). Cheltenham: Pett (3), Miller (90).

Bookings: Colchester: Kelleher (unsporting behaviour, 28), Payne (foul, 61), Taylor (unsporting behaviour, 66). Cheltenham: Jude-Boyd (34), Archer (simulation, 75), Thomas (foul, 77).

Sending off: None.