‘These are only latest scores,’ urged the tannoy announcer after reading the latests elsewhere that would determine Colchester United’s League One fate.

But the fans were in no doubt. They had already swarmed onto the pitch, mobbing the players and chanting ‘we are staying up’ with unshakable confidence.

It was a good five minutes before they could be absolutely sure. ‘Colchester United are staying up’ bellowed the man on the mic and the biggest roar heard on this ground for a long time went up.

George Moncur sprints away in celebration having scored the winner to keep Colchester in League One

Colchester United fans celebrate on the pitch having secured League One survival on the final day

MATCH FACTS Colchester United (4-4-2): Walker; Brindley, Khumalo, Eastman, Briggs; Fox, Gilbey (Szmodics 80), Massey (Wynter 91), Moncur; Murphy (Sembie-Ferris 81), Porter Subs not used: Lewington, Healey, Bonne, Lapslie Scorer: Moncur 82 Booked: Eastman Preston North End (4-4-2): Johnstone; Clarke, Huntington, Wright, Laird (Davies 86); Humphrey (Robinson 58), Johnson, Welsh, Gallagher; Beckford (Ebanks-Blake 89), Garner Subs not used: Wiseman, Kilkenny, Woods, Stuckmann Booked: Johnstone Referee: Keith Stroud Attendance: 8,413 Advertisement

Here was the emotions of the game of football in brutal relief. While Colchester’s celebrations at another year in the third tier went on long after the final whistle, over in Preston’s section it was as though a balloon had been pricked and the air had gushed out.

For North End, it is once again the lottery of the play-offs having missed out on the second automatic place by virtue of Milton Keynes Dons’ emphatic win over Yeovil Town.

Their supporters dashed for the exits and the coaches to carry them on the long journey home. Others stood around in sheer disbelief that their team, who had clung onto second spot since March 3, had relinquished it at the last.

The crucial moment arrived eight minutes from time. The ball was worked into Chris Porter, who controlled it despite defensive attentions and had the presence of mind to spot George Moncur unmarked 12 yards out.

There was only one outcome, Moncur sweeping the ball into the corner to spark delirious celebrations.

Preston's Paul Gallagher (right) can't hide his anguish after his side missed out on automatic promotion

Colchester goalkeeper Sam Walker celebrates his teams survival from relegation on Sunday

But the most relieved man in the stadium was undoubtedly Porter, who had missed a penalty during the second-half that would have cost them survival but for Moncur’s intervention.

It didn’t require a degree in mathematics to figure out the permutations here. Quite simply, it was win or bust for both teams.

Second-placed Preston led MK Dons by a single point at kick-off, but with Karl Robinson’s men boasting the superior goal difference and the weaker opposition in already-condemned Yeovil Town, it was likely only three points would be sufficient.

In order to avoid following the Glovers into League Two, Colchester needed to better the results of both Notts County and Crawley Town, both a point ahead of them.

A huge contingent of nearly 3,000 followed North End down from Lancashire, confident their pre-dawn wake-up calls would be rewarded with a return to the second tier for the first time since 2011.

Preston were unbeaten since January 31, a sensational run of 18 matches, yet manager Simon Grayson struck the right tone ahead of the match by saying ‘it all boiled now down to a one-game season.’

Despite a tickertape welcome, neither side started with the urgency you would expect from such a high-stakes occasion. Nerves pervaded every touch and move, with passes wayward and chances scarce.

Chris Porter missed a second-half penalty for the home side as they desperately fought for survival

Joe Garner directed a header directly at Colchester goalkeeper Sam Walker early on and his opposite number Sam Johnstone touched a low, bouncing shot from Richard Brindley round the post.

In days gone by, fans would have a transistor radio glued to their ears on occasions like these, or simply wait until the PA announcer put them out of their misery.

These days, it’s all Twitter and mobile phone apps or, in this case, the mocking chants of the opposing support.

‘One-nil to the MK Dons,’ sung the Colchester end as the news Preston were fearing but expecting filtered through. ‘Going down, going down,’ came the inevitable retort.

Preston striker Jermaine Beckford celebrates Porter's penalty miss early in the second-half

With chances few and far between, it was the first-half flurry of goal at stadium:mk that attracted the most attention. The Colchester United supporter score service was up to ‘four-nil to the Dons’ by half-time.

And they could have been even more jubilant when Jacob Murphy advanced down the right, glanced up to see Johnstone ridiculously far off his line and attempted a lob that was badly sliced and bounced past the far post.

Preston had been sub-par, with a Paul Huntington header onto the roof of the net their clearest first-half opening, but, still needing just one goal to go up, they started well after the break.

Jermaine Beckford suddenly found himself bearing down on goal but, as he prepared to pull the trigger, Tom Eastman came from nowhere to slide in and save his team.

News trickled through that Crawley had taken the lead against Coventry but the mood remained buoyant. Even more so when George Moncur was brought down by Johnstone just before the hour. Penalty.

Goal scorer George Moncur celebrates at the final whistle, having secured League One survival

The home fans hushed as Porter stepped up and remained that way as he blazed an awful kick high over the crossbar.

The miss proved the spur that Preston needed. They forced a succession of corners, forcing the U’s into some backs-to-the-wall defending. Daniel Johnson flashed a cross across the face but nobody had gambled.

Colchester still posed a threat on the counter, especially when the dangerous Norwich loanee Murphy picked up the ball on the left. He forced Johnstone into a block at his near post following another penetrating run.

Back down the other end and Johnson’s testing cross was headed by Garner at the far post. It rippled the netting but unfortunately for those prematurely celebrating, it was the wrong side of the post.

But Moncur’s goal changed everything and it could have been two when substitute Sammie Szmodics raced through only to be denied by Johnstone’s outstretched legs. But, in the end, just the one was enough.