Match ends, Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 1.
ColchesterColchester United2HartlepoolHartlepool United1
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
Colchester
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 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
Formation 4-5-1
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 1.
Post update
Foul by Tarique Fosu-Henry (Colchester United).
Post update
Lewis Alessandra (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Rekeil Pyke replaces Kurtis Guthrie because of an injury.
Post update
Delay in match Kurtis Guthrie (Colchester United) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Hartlepool United. Conceded by Matthew Briggs.
Booking
Drey Wright (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Joe Fryer.
Post update
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!
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
Substitution, Colchester United. Tarique Fosu-Henry replaces Chris Porter.
Substitution
Substitution, Hartlepool United. Lewis Hawkins replaces Lewis Alessandra.
Substitution
Substitution, Hartlepool United. Louis Rooney replaces Rhys Oates.
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 2, Hartlepool United 0. Chris Porter (Colchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Post update
Penalty Colchester United. Kurtis Guthrie draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Liam Donnelly (Hartlepool United) after a foul in the penalty area.
