Coventry City's late push could not stop them falling to a 2-1 defeat away to Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Freddie Sears got an early opener for the home side with Gavin Massey adding a second after 25 minutes.
Callum Wilson put a positive spin on the end of the half for City with his 17th of the season just before Trevor Kettle blew for the interval but despite a spirited second half performance Steven Pressley's men could not find an equaliser.
Pressley made one change to the side that beat Walsall at home in midweek, bringing back Blair Adams in place of Mark Marshall.
City suffered an early scare after just three minutes when a lofted ball over the top from former City striker Clinton Morrison found Gavin Massey whose first touch took him inside Jordan Clarke only for his to scuff his finish just ten yards from goal.
A similar move on the left though saw the U's take the lead through another for Sky Blues front man in the form of Freddie Sears. A ball over the back split defenders Andy Webster and Dan Seaborne and Sears ran into the space and cut into the box before sliding a calm finish through the legs of 'keeper Joe Murphy.
Sears should have done better on nine minutes though when he skipped a challenge from Webster on the edge of the area and fired an effort with the outside of his boot which gave Murphy a comfortable save.
The Sky Blues then fashioned a good chance after quarter of an hour after a swift counter attack from Chuba Akpom and Callum Wilson. Akpom raced throughthe heart of the Colchester half before slipping a late ball on the overlap to his strike partner. Wilson then returned the favour with a cutback into the six-yard area but home 'keeper Sam Walker got down quick to smother.
The home side doubled their lead five minutes before the half hour though, again with a ball over the top. A Sky Blues clearance was sent straight back with a hooked half volley from Brian Wilson and Massey beat the offside trap to race through and finish past Murphy.
The Sky Blues did manage to finish the half on a positive note though when Wilson tucked one away as the half approached two minutes of added time. Jordan Clarke played a ball down the left flank for Wilson to chase onto and he squeezed a finish past Walker inside the foot of his far post from an almost impossibly tight angle.
The goal seemed to give City the lift they needed as they came out for the second half looking the better of the two sides.
Wilson and Michael Petrasso both enjoyed room down the flanks to fire testing crosses into the box as Colchester defended deeper.
Sky Blues substitute Franck Moussa went close seven minutes after being brought on when he picked up a through ball from Akpom and lashed a shot over the bar.
Wilson then went close again two minutes later when he showed blistering pace to squeeze between the centre-halves only to be foiled when Walker saved his attempted finish.
Manager Steven Pressley then signalled an intent to push for an equaliser when he replaced Webster with Nathan Delfouneso and switched to a 3-4-3 formation.
The change unfortunately though did not yield the second goal that the Sky Blues were looking for. With five minutes of added time to play, City pushed for an equaliser and came inches from one when Wilson's burst up the pitch saw him drag his finish just wide of the foot of the far post in what was the last action of the game.
Attendance: 4,426 (797 Sky Blue Army)
Teams
Coventry City: Murphy, Webster (Delfouneso 75), Seaborne (c), Clarke, Willis, Adams (Moussa 55), Petrasso, Thomas (McGeouch 84), Fleck, Wilson, Akpom
Subs: Burge (GK), Christie, Barton, Marshall
Colchester Utd: Walker, Wright, Dickson, Okuonghae, Watt, Morrison (Bonne 77), Sears (Eastmond 61), Bean, Eastman, Wilson, Massey (Vose 82)
Subs: Cousins (GK), Sanderson, Olufemi, Sesay