Colchester 0-2 Crystal Palace

Colchester's slim hopes of a Championship play-off place were ended by this away win for Crystal Palace.

Former Ipswich striker James Scowcroft got his first goal since November when he headed in Jobi McAnuff's cross to give Palace an 11th-minute lead.

Midfielder Ben Watson completed Palace's win with a shot which went through goalkeeper Dean Gerken's legs.

Julian Speroni was key to the visitors' win, with the Palace keeper making a series of saves to deny Jamie Cureton.

The Colchester striker, who finished the season as the division's top scorer with 23 league goals, missed a good chance to give the home side the lead after 40 seconds when he drilled a shot wide.

606 Debate: Give your thoughts on the match

Scowcroft did not take long to punish Cureton's miss, stealing in between defenders Karl Duguid and Pat Baldwin to head powerfully beyond Gerken. After 20 minutes Carl Fletcher came close to extending Palace's lead, but his shot rebounded off the bar.

Colchester went close to pulling level within 60 seconds of the resumption, but Duguid's curling shot went narrowly wide.

Cureton was twice denied by Speroni, who first made an excellent right-hand save to thwart the former Reading striekr, with the Palace keeper then making a save with his feet.

On 69 minutes Watson beat Wayne Brown to the ball and drilled it through the legs of Gerken from 18 yards to seal the win for Palace.

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Colchester boss Geraint Williams:
"The season ended how it started for us - with a defeat.

"But everyone in our squad should be proud of what they have done this season because it's been tough for us.

"Now we'll be looking to see what we can achieve next season."

Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor:
"It was nice to finish the season so well.

"We didn't finish as high as we'd have liked to but you live and learn.

"We've tightened up a bit over the last two games but Colchester have had a better season than us on a tighter budget."

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Colchester: Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin (White 46), Brown, Elokobi (McLeod 67), Garcia, Watson, Izzet, Ephraim, Cureton, Iwelumo.
Subs Not Used: Davison, Guy, Wordsworth.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Borrowdale, McAnuff, Watson, Fletcher (Soares 30), Kennedy, Morrison (Ifill 66), Scowcroft.
Subs Not Used: Flinders, Kuqi, Butterfield.

Booked: Watson.

Goals: Scowcroft 11, Watson 69.

Att: 5,857

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).