Colchester United 2-1 Hartlepool United

Colchester boosted their play-off hopes with a win over struggling Hartlepool.

Pools goalkeeper Joe Fryer made an 11th-minute save to deny Brennan Dickenson, who also fired straight at Fryer midway through the first half.

Chris Porter had an effort disallowed for offside and Sean Murray's deflected effort whistled just over for Colchester, for whom George Elokobi came close to converting at the far post before half-time.

Pools striker Padraig Amond steered Brad Walker's curled ball into the area over from close range early in the second half.

But Colchester went ahead just after the hour mark when Kurtis Guthrie headed home Richard Brindley's cross at the near post after a fine attacking move.

Porter doubled Colchester's lead from the penalty spot with 12 minutes remaining after Guthrie had been fouled by Liam Donnelly in the area.

Pools halved the deficit four minutes later through Nathan Thomas, who burst into the area and planted a low shot past Colchester goalkeeper Sam Walker, but the hosts held on.

Match report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Colchester

• 1Walker
• 35James
• 15Elokobi
• 3Briggs
• 2BrindleySubstituted forWrightat 71'minutesBooked at 85mins
• 4Lapslie
• 22Garvan
• 11DickensonBooked at 29mins
• 23Murray
• 28GuthrieSubstituted forPykeat 90+2'minutes
• 9PorterSubstituted forFosu-Henryat 80'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Wright
• 12Vincent-Young
• 14Wynter
• 25Barnes
• 27Pyke
• 31Fosu-Henry
• 39Edge

Hartlepool

• 42Fryer
• 35Richardson
• 8Walker
• 26Harrison
• 33Donnelly
• 7Thomas
• 14WoodsBooked at 57mins
• 4Featherstone
• 15AlessandraSubstituted forHawkinsat 80'minutes
• 11OatesSubstituted forRooneyat 80'minutes
• 9Amond

Substitutes

• 18Hawkins
• 23Smith
• 28Rooney
• 29Martin
• 31Dudzinski
• 34Hawkes

Referee:

Ben Toner

Attendance:

3,357

Match Stats

Home TeamColchesterAway TeamHartlepool

Possession

Home54%

Away46%

Shots

Home8

Away4

Shots on Target

Home5

Away1

Corners

Home7

Away4

Fouls

Home6

Away5

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+10'

Second Half ends, Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 1.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Tarique Fosu-Henry (Colchester United).

Posted at 90'+4'

Lewis Alessandra (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Colchester United. Rekeil Pyke replaces Kurtis Guthrie because of an injury.

Posted at 89'

Delay in match Kurtis Guthrie (Colchester United) because of an injury.

Posted at 87'

Attempt blocked. Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 86'

Corner, Hartlepool United. Conceded by Matthew Briggs.

Booking

Posted at 85'

Drey Wright (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 85'

Attempt missed. Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Joe Fryer.

Posted at 84'

Attempt saved. Drey Wright (Colchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.

Goal!

Posted at 82'

Goal! Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 1. Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Colchester United. Tarique Fosu-Henry replaces Chris Porter.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Hartlepool United. Lewis Hawkins replaces Lewis Alessandra.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Hartlepool United. Louis Rooney replaces Rhys Oates.

Goal!

Posted at 78'

Goal! Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 0. Chris Porter (Colchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

Posted at 78'

Penalty Colchester United. Kurtis Guthrie draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 78'

Penalty conceded by Liam Donnelly (Hartlepool United) after a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 73'

Attempt missed. Chris Porter (Colchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a fast break.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Tom Lapslie (Colchester United).

Posted at 72'

Lewis Alessandra (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Colchester United. Drey Wright replaces Richard Brindley.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Tom Lapslie (Colchester United).

Posted at 70'

Lewis Alessandra (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Chris Porter (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.

Posted at 67'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Nicky Featherstone.

Posted at 66'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Liam Donnelly.

Goal!

Posted at 63'

Goal! Colchester United 1, Hartlepool United 0. Kurtis Guthrie (Colchester United) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Richard Brindley.

Posted at 61'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Joe Fryer.

Posted at 61'

Attempt missed. Tom Lapslie (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

Booking

Posted at 57'

Michael Woods (Hartlepool United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 52'

Matthew Briggs (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 52'

Foul by Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool United).

Posted at 47'

Attempt missed. Padraig Amond (Hartlepool United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Colchester United 0, Hartlepool United 0.

Half Time

Posted at 45'+2'

First Half ends, Colchester United 0, Hartlepool United 0.

Posted at 44'

Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Colchester United).

Posted at 44'

Liam Donnelly (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

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