COLCHESTER United suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit this afternoon after they were beaten 5-3 on penalties by non-league Marine.

Substitute Michael Howard slotted home the all-important spot-kick for the Mariners, as the U’s were dumped out of the competition by their Northern Premier League Division One North West opponents.

Josh Bohui’s miss in the shoot-out proved crucial, as Colchester suffered a miserable defeat.

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

It was a real day to forget for Colchester and will go down as one of the most disappointing results in their FA Cup history.

Colchester boss Steve Ball had made two changes to his starting line-up, with defender Omar Sowunmi handed his third start of the season and Noah Chilvers was also recalled to the starting line-up.

Tommy Smith dropped to the bench but Ben Stevenson was not among the substitutes.

Marine made a lively start to the tie and certainly did not look overawed or intimidated by the occasion, in the opening stages.

And Colchester suffered a blow in the 18th minute when winger Callum Harriott picked up what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by Josh Bohui.

Things got even worse for the U’s in the 21st minute when Marine took a shock lead.

After Josh Hmami’s free-kick came back off the post, defender Anthony Miley followed up to score from close range.

Buoyed by the goal, Marine were quick to press the U’s, preventing them from having time on the ball in key areas.

Colchester failed to seriously threaten in the first half and Marine goalkeeper Bayleigh Passant did not have a meaningful save to make, before the break.

The U’s were sloppy and indecisive in possession and lacked tempo in key areas, during the first half.

Indeed, the visitors might have doubled their lead before the break when Kengni dispossessed Cohen Bramall in a dangerous area and fired in a shot which forced U’s keeper Dean Gerken to make a smart parry, from close range.

Colchester went in trailing at the break and set about trying to find an equaliser, after half-time.

Chilvers’ low shot from 25 yards flew through a crowded area and wide of the target in the opening stages of the second half for Colchester.

AFC Marine assistant Alan Morgan was shown a yellow card and U’s boss Ball switched things around after that, sending on Smith for Miles Welch-Hayes and reverting to three at the back.

It paid dividends almost immediately as the U’s were back on level terms in the 64th minute through Pell, who followed up to score after Chilvers’ long-range effort had only been parried by Passant and Marine had failed to clear their lines.

Poku curled an effort just wide soon after from the edge of the area but Marine were still very much in the tie and should really have regained their lead when James Barrigan sliced a shot wide of the near post in a good position inside the area, with 16 minutes remaining.

Cohen Bramall’s far-post header from Senior’s deep cross clipped the post before going wide.

But Marine looked threatening on the counter attack in the closing stages of normal time, with Barrigan’s left-foot shot flying just wide after Gerken had parried Touray’s shot.

The games could not be separated after 90 minutes though so the first-round tie went into extra-time and Colchester almost went ahead in the fifth minute of the first period when substitute Bohui’s long run resulted in a low shot from just inside the area which Passant did well to push away.

Jevani Brown blasted over from just inside the area after being picked out in space by substitute Michael Folivi in the opening minute of the second period of extra-time.

Folivi almost won it right at the end of extra-time for the U’s but the tie went to penalties and Marine prevailed to stun Colchester.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gerken, Welch-Hayes (sub Smith, 61), Eastman, Sowunmi, Bramall, Chilvers, Pell, Senior, Poku (sub Folivi, 81), Harriott (sub Bohui, 18), Brown.

Subs (not used): Scarlett, Marshall-Miranda, Cowan-Hall, George.

U’s man of the match: Harry Pell.

Marine: Passant, Solomon-Davies, Joyce, Doyle (sub Devine, 86), Miley, Raven, Kengni, Hmami (sub Howard, 82), Cummins (sub Strickland, 105), Touray, Barrigan (sub Hughes, 99).

Subs (not used): Mendes, Wignall, Shaw.

Referee: Sam Allison.

Goals: Colchester: Pell (64). Marine: Miley (21).

Bookings: Colchester: Chilvers (foul, 20), Smith (foul, 103). Marine: Miley (foul, 70), Raven (unsporting behaviour, 90).