Preston's Coca-Cola Championship title hopes suffered a severe blow as their four-match winning streak ended with defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Colchester.

Garry Richards' header from a United set piece did the damage midway through the second half of a game that the home side deserved to win after a fluid attacking display.

Colchester had not won in their last four outings before the visit of the Lilywhites, who started strongly but were ultimately second best, failing to capitalise on a number of good chances.

With neither side wishing to drop points in their respective promotion bids, the game began with a sense of urgency and Preston's Chris Sedgwick set about bossing the midfield with some uncompromising challenges.

North End then set about seeking an opener and Michael Ricketts' shot from 20 yards was parried by Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

The rebound fell to David Nugent, who felt he was fouled by Matthew Mills as he tried to shoot, but only a corner was awarded by referee Chris Foy.

United responded almost immediately when, after good work outside the box by Chris Iwelumo, Kevin Watson was teed up to thump a shot towards goal from 18 yards with his left foot - but North End goalkeeper Andy Lonergan made a fine diving save.

Colchester's best chance to break the deadlock fell to Kemal Izzet, who found himself with the time to shoot from inside the area but Preston's Danny Pugh threw himself in front of the shot and it bounced away for a corner.

Watson's corner was swinging in towards the head of Chris Iwelumo, when Liam Chilvers made a timely intervention for Preston, hammering the ball away to safety.

Izzet, having had a sniff of goal, came back for more with two superb efforts, putting an audacious 30-yard shot just wide of the post before grazing the crossbar from 10 yards closer.

Preston countered and Gerken had to be on his toes to catch Sedgwick's curling 20-yard effort.

But Colchester's momentum carried them forward again and Cureton saw his shots from 12 and 20 yards flash wide of Lonergan's goal before the half-time whistle blew.

North End went straight on to the attack in the second half, with Nugent stinging Gerken's palms with a shot from 12 yards, before Sedgwick looped in a long-range shot that the goalkeeper had to stretch to save.

But Colchester refused to be intimidated by the Championship's form team and they broke with Cureton, who knocked a neat ball over the visiting defence to Johnnie Jackson, who waltzed into the area and struck a 12-yard shot that Lonergan tipped over.

Colchester's pressure finally paid off when Watson knocked a corner short to Chris Barker, his cross picked out Richards and the defender netted with a well-placed downward header of which any striker would have been proud.

McKenna led Preston's search for an equaliser and he was teed up by Nugent for a 12-yard bullet of a shot that flew just wide of the post.

Preston boss Paul Simpson sent on Brett Ormerod for the last 10 minutes, knowing a defeat would hand Derby a significant advantage in the race for the Championship.

But the best his side could muster in the closing stages was a McKenna drive from 25 yards that Izzet blocked, ensuring the points stayed at Layer Road.

Teams:

Colchester Gerken, White, Mills (Richards 62), Brown, Barker,Duguid, Watson, Izzet, Jackson, Iwelumo, Cureton (Guy 90).

Subs Not Used: Davison, McLeod, Ephraim.

Booked: Iwelumo.

Goals: Richards 67.

Preston Lonergan, Alexander, Chilvers, Wilson,Hill (Ormerod 80), Sedgwick, McKenna, Pugh,Lewis Neal (Whaley 65), Nugent, Ricketts.

Subs Not Used: Nash, St. Ledger, Mellor.

Booked: Nugent.

Att: 5,085

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).