Match ends, Port Vale 2, Colchester United 0.
Two goals from Doug Loft saw Port Vale revive their fading play-off hopes at the expense of a Colchester side playing their first game for 24 days.
Loft scored his sixth goal of the season when he swept in a low left-foot shot after 13 minutes.
His second came against the run of play early in the second half, a right-foot effort from 16 yards.
Vale were forced to soak up heavy pressure late on, with U's substitute Freddie Sears going close three times.
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Neal
- 2Yates
- 5Dickinson
- 18Lines
- 20GrimmerBooked at 90mins
- 17Davis
- 7Loft
- 21GriffithSubstituted forKnottat 87'minutes
- 39HugillSubstituted forWilliamsonat 76'minutes
- 11PopeBooked at 90minsSubstituted forDoddsat 90+2'minutes
- 3Jones
Substitutes
- 8Dodds
- 9Myrie-Williams
- 10Tomlin
- 12Johnson
- 19Williamson
- 26Birchall
- 28Knott
Colchester
Formation 4-4-2
- 44Walker
- 20Wilson
- 3Dickson
- 2WrightSubstituted forSearsat 64'minutes
- 18Eastman
- 4Okuonghae
- 25VoseSubstituted forMasseyat 77'minutes
- 15Bean
- 9MorrisonBooked at 44minsSubstituted forIbehreat 64'minutes
- 7Sanchez Watt
- 6Eastmond
Substitutes
- 1Cousins
- 11Sears
- 17Ibehre
- 21Massey
- 22Gilbey
- 23Olufemi
- 39Sesay
- Referee:
- Andy Haines
- Attendance:
- 3,734
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 2, Colchester United 0.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Chris Neal.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jabo Ibehre (Colchester United) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Louis Dodds replaces Tom Pope.
Booking
Jack Grimmer (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Ben Williamson (Port Vale).
Post update
Craig Eastmond (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Billy Knott replaces Anthony Griffith.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sanchez Watt (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sanchez Watt (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sanchez Watt (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt missed. Doug Loft (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Gavin Massey replaces Dominic Vose.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Ben Williamson replaces Jordan Hugill.
Post update
Attempt missed. Freddie Sears (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Doug Loft (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Freddie Sears (Colchester United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Magnus Okuonghae (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Carl Dickinson.