Jamie Cureton stunned Leeds with a last-minute winner to send the Yorkshire club spiralling back into the Coca-Cola Championship bottom three.

Dennis Wise's side, who climbed out of the drop zone with victory over Plymouth on Saturday, looked on course for a crucial third straight win after Eddie Lewis gave them the lead early in the second half.

But Colchester, who have lost only three games at Layer Road all season, preserved their impressive home record with Chris Iwelumo launching himself at Karl Duguid's free-kick to head an 82nd-minute equaliser before Cureton fired home from close range for his seventh goal in four games and his 22nd of the season.

Geraint Williams' side, promoted from League One at the end of last season, have now won their last four matches to keep alive their hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Leeds wasted several chances to take the lead as the first half ended goalless.

Skipper Jonathan Douglas' long-range effort was well saved by Dean Gerken, Tresor Kandol blazed a close-range effort over the crossbar and David Healy shot high and wide when through one on one with the home goalkeeper.

Colchester had several chances of their own in the first period with Richard Garcia and dangerman Cureton both going close.

Colchester were unchanged after securing a third straight win on Saturday, which lifted them to within four points of the play-offs, while Alan Thompson, Rui Marques and Kandol were recalled to Leeds' starting line-up in place of Robbie Blake, Frazer Richardson and Richard Cresswell.

The home fans, some of whom will recall their side's famous 3-2 FA Cup win over Don Revie's Leeds at their modest ground in 1971, were given early encouragement when Garcia headed Kevin Watson's corner over the crossbar and 21-goal Cureton flashed a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Healy, another striker in red-hot scoring form, gave warning with a crisp shot just off-target from similar distance, while Kemal Izzet tested visiting goalkeeper Casper Ankergren from 18 yards.

Kandol's header from Radostin Kishishev's free-kick was cleared by Wayne Brown at the other end.

The visitors then went close to taking the lead on three occasions. Douglas' 20-yard shot was tipped over the crossbar by Gerken, Kandol lashed the ball over from six yards following Thompson's cross and Healy was off-target after being sent through on goal with just Gerken to beat.

Garcia tested Ankergren with a 20-yard shot the Danish goalkeeper held after the break, but it was Leeds who made the crucial breakthrough in the 53rd minute.

Lewis collected the ball in the left channel and after advancing to the edge of the area unleashed a left-footed shot which whistled beyond Gerken and inside the home goalkeeper's left-hand post.

Colchester were dealt a further blow soon after when Watson was forced off injured and replaced by Hogan Ephraim, but went close to levelling when Iwelumo headed Duguid's cross the wrong side of the post.

Ephraim and Johnnie Jackson both rifled long distance shots over the crossbar and soon after Colchester were back on level terms.

Lewis was penalised for his challenge on Duguid and from the Colchester defender's subsequent free-kick Iwelumo launched himself to head home into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

And early in injury-time Cureton pounced to meet Ephraim's ball in from the left to steer home a dramatic winner.

Colchester (0) 2 Leeds (0) 1

Colchester Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, Barker,Garcia (Guy 69), Watson (Ephraim 58), Izzet, Jackson, Iwelumo,Cureton.

Subs Not Used: Davison, White, McLeod.

Goals: Iwelumo 82, Cureton 90.

Leeds Ankergren, Rui Marques, Heath, Michalik, Gray, Douglas,Kishishev, Thompson, Lewis, Healy (Blake 89), Kandol.

Subs Not Used: Robbie Elliott, Foxe, Moore, Stack.

Booked: Ankergren, Kishishev, Lewis, Douglas.

Goals: Lewis 53.

Att: 5,916

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).