The U’s were 3-0 up at half-time after goals from Samson Tovide, Arthur Read and Harry Anderson.

George Miller pulled one back for the hosts in the second half, but Finley Barbrook added a late fourth for the visitors.

Kuffour, 22, made his first start in the English Football League, having been plucked from non-league football last season.

“I was so pleased for Sam, a boy who was playing for Maldon & Tiptree this time last year in step eight of English football,” Cowley said.

“He’s trained every day and he works incredibly hard at his game. He came back from a good loan at Hornchurch and really deserved his start today.

“He was excellent, even when they brought Mo Faal on, who is such a handful. He dealt with him really well. I’m proud of him.”

Tovide opened the scoring in the third minute with a close-range finish after Frankie Terry’s pass, and the lead was doubled two minutes later when Teddy Bishop found Read, who fired a fine finish inside the bottom right corner from outside the box.

Colchester’s third was set up by Kyreece Lisbie, whose low ball in from the right was converted by Anderson in the 31st minute.

Miller’s seventh of the season restored hope for Cheltenham 10 minutes into the second half, nodding in a free-kick delivery from Luke Young, but Barbrook rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute, following up after a parry from Joe Day.

An emotional Robins boss Steve Cotterill was determined to focus on the season as a whole after steering his hometown club to safety with five games left to play.

Cheltenham were rock bottom when he took over at the end of September.

“It’s been incredible. The love that I’ve had since I’ve come back here is probably what makes me emotional,” he said.

“Then, the love I’ve been given allows me to put in the hours of commitment not only on the training ground, but at home, and to be able to cuddle and cajole my staff along, who have been out of this world in their support for me.

“Even though the players go out there and make a mistake, or whatever, without them I would never have been able to do that. If you lob the supporters in, it’s been such a team effort. I really and truly believe that.”