Not even the sending-off of French star David Friio could ruin Second Division champions Plymouth Argyle's promotion party.
Friio was dismissed in the 63rd minute for deliberate handball when he punched a goalbound header off the line.
The popular French midfielder, who will now miss the beginning of Argyle's first season in the First Division in August, left the field to a standing ovation from another sell-out Home Park crowd.
To make matters worse for Colchester, striker Scott McGleish missed the penalty.
The day had started brightly for Friio, with sunshine-bathed Home Park in real celebratory mood after clinching the Second Division title two weeks earlier by beating runners-up Queens Park Rangers.
Friio opened the scoring with a smart shot in the 17th minute, crushing any doubts that the Pilgrims might saunter through their final match of the campaign.
Colchester's refusal to pay respect to the champions by declining to welcome them on to the pitch with a guard of honour certainly acted as a spur to the home side.
David Norris doubled the margin of victory two minutes into the second half when he finished off a left-wing cross by Tony Capaldi that Colchester failed to deal with properly.
Substitute Nathan Lowndes came close to adding to the tally when he crashed a shot against the crossbar after good work by Norris, and Capaldi had a marvellous first-time volley turned around the post by U's goalkeeper Simon Brown.
Norris nearly rounded the season off in style when he tried to lob Brown from 40 yards, but the Colchester man just managed to get back in time to tip the ball over.
After the game, the Pilgrims were presented with the championship trophy, with the crowd in great voice.
And they did not forget a chorus for Paul Sturrock, their manager for the first 34 games of the season before he left to join Premiership Southampton.