COLCHESTER United's defeat at the hands of non-league outfit Marine on Saturday served as a sobering reminder of what can happen in the FA Cup.

The U's were on the wrong end of a giantkilling act after crashing out of the competition at the first-round stage against their Northern Premier League Division One North West opponents.

But there have also been plenty of occasions over the years when Colchester have been the team dishing out the upset.

The Gazette looks back on five big wins and five disappointing defeats for the U's, in the FA Cup.

FIVE COLCHESTER UNITED FA CUP GIANTKILLING ACTS

1 COLCHESTER UNITED 3 LEEDS UNITED 2 (1971)

ANY piece on Colchester United's FA Cup wins should always start with what was arguably the biggest triumph in their history.

Dick Graham's side humbled the mighty Leeds United in front of 16,000 at Layer Road, a result which sent shockwaves around the world of football.

Ray Crawford scored twice and Dave Simmons also netted in the 3-2 fifth-round win to lay the foundation for the fourth-division minnows to humble Don Revie’s all-conquering Leeds side, which featured the likes of Jack Charlton, Johnny Giles and Norman Hunter and had been runners-up in the competition the previous season.

2 SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 COLCHESTER UNITED 2 (2006)

COLCHESTER United booked their place in the fourth round after humbling the Blades, at Bramall Lane.

Phil Parkinson's team had trailed to Steve Kabba's fifth-minute goal for the Championship side.

But Neil Danns equalised before half-time and substitute Gareth Williams struck a 72nd-minute winner, for the U's to knock Neil Warnock's side out of the competition.

3 COLCHESTER UNITED 3 COVENTRY CITY 1 (2004)

THE U's caused a shock at Layer Road after knocking out second-tier opponents Coventry City, at Layer Road.

Rowan Vine was the star of the show for Colchester, hitting a hat-trick to help his side win their fourth-round clash.

Vine had given Colchester the lead and although Julian Joachim equalised, the U's scored twice more to claim a notable victory against a Coventry side featuring the likes of Steve Staunton, Richard Shaw and Stephen Warnock.

4 COLCHESTER UNITED 1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 (1948)

COLCHESTER United were a Southern League club when they knocked division one outfit Huddersfield Town out of the competition, in front of a crowd of 16,000 at Layer Road.

Bob Curry was on target in their superb third-round win, as a U's side featuring the likes of Vic Keeble, Albert Kettle and Harry Bearryman progressed.

Ted Fenton's side embarked on a magnificent run which took them to the last 16 for the first time in their history, their progress eventually ended by Stanley Matthews' Blackpool.

5 COLCHESTER UNITED 3 DERBY COUNTY 1

NEIL Danns scored twice to help Colchester United of League One see off Championship strugglers Derby County.

Richard Garcia was also on target for Phil Parkinson's side in their fourth-round win, with Tommy Smith scoring the Rams' consolation.

FIVE HUMBLING COLCHESTER UNITED FA CUP DEFEATS

1 BEDLINGTON TERRIERS 4 COLCHESTER UNITED 1

COLCHESTER United experienced a miserable day after being thrashed in their first-round tie at non-league Bedlington Terriers.

Tony Adcock's late goal proved only a consolation for Steve Wignall's side, after strikes from Tommy Ditchburn, John Milner (2) and Mickey Cross saw the hosts cause a major upset.

2 COLCHESTER UNITED 0 OXFORD CITY 1 (2017)

NATIONAL League South side Oxford City enjoyed one of the biggest results in their history after winning at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Matt Paterson's second-half header proved the difference between the two sides in the first-round tie, leaving John McGreal's side beaten.

"Take nothing away from Oxford, they were excellent on the day and deserved to go through," said McGreal afterwards.

3 CHELMSFORD CITY 3 COLCHESTER UNITED 1 (2012)

IT was an Essex derby to forget for League One team Colchester United after they were beaten by Chelmsford City in the first match between the sides for 44 years.

Donovan Simmonds scored twice and Jamie Slabber was also on target for the Clarets in the first-round tie at Melbourne Park, with Michael Rose scoring the consolation goal for Joe Dunne's side.

4 COLCHESTER UNITED 1 MARINE 1 (after extra-time, Marine won 5-3 on penalties) (2020)

EIGHTH-TIER Marine stunned Colchester United after winning a penalty shoot-out at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The U's lost 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out to go out of the competition at the first-round stage at the hands of their Northern Premier League Division One North West opponents, after the tie had finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Michael Howard scored Marine's winning penalty after Josh Bohui had missed from the spot, as Colchester went out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the fifth successive season.

The tie had gone to extra-time and penalties after finishing 1-1 after 120 minutes, with skipper Harry Pell having cancelled out Anthony Miley’s first-half opener for Marine.

5 COLCHESTER UNITED 0 CHESTER CITY 1 (2002)

NON-LEAGUE Chester City stunned division two outfit Colchester United after coming away with a first-round win, at Layer Road.

Mark Wright's side claimed a 1-0 victory, with Chris Tate scoring the Conference side's all-important winning goal to knock out Steve Whitton's side.