Colchester United 1-2 Stevenage

Colchester United's automatic promotion hopes suffered a blow after they were beaten at home by Stevenage, who claimed a first away win since October.

The game was delayed for 15 minutes after the visitors' coach broke down on the way to the ground.

But it was Boro who caught the hosts cold when they took a fifth-minute lead, Ben Nugent's header from Joel Byrom's free-kick striking a post before going in for an own goal off Colchester goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

After Stevenage keeper Paul Farman denied Harry Pell, the visitors then doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time when Danny Newton tapped in from two yards after Kurtis Guthrie had headed back Jamal Campbell-Ryce's deep cross.

Farman denied both Frank Nouble and Sammie Szmodics in first-half stoppage-time and Colchester substitute Mikael Mandron's header rattled a post for the hosts.

Colchester eventually pulled a goal back with seven minutes remaining through skipper Luke Prosser, who touched in from close range after Tom Eastman had headed Brennan Dickenson's corner towards goal.

Report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Colchester

• 25Gilmartin
• 18Eastman
• 5ProsserBooked at 56mins
• 6KentBooked at 39minsSubstituted forVincent-Youngat 45'minutes
• 2JacksonBooked at 74mins
• 4LapslieSubstituted forSeniorat 66'minutes
• 8Pell
• 11Dickenson
• 10Szmodics
• 45Nouble
• 9NorrisSubstituted forMandronat 74'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Barnes
• 7Senior
• 14Comley
• 19Mandron
• 22Vincent-Young
• 23Gondoh
• 35Kensdale

Stevenage

• 1FarmanBooked at 88mins
• 15VancootenBooked at 65mins
• 31Nugent
• 5Cuthbert
• 12Seddon
• 20Campbell-RyceBooked at 85minsSubstituted forHuntat 86'minutes
• 16Iontton
• 8ByromBooked at 21mins
• 10KennedySubstituted forHenryat 85'minutes
• 19NewtonSubstituted forRevellat 70'minutes
• 28Guthrie

Substitutes

• 3Hunt
• 7Ball
• 9Revell
• 11Sonupe
• 22Reid
• 25Henry
• 30Wilkinson

Referee:

Lee Collins

Attendance:

5,032

Match Stats

Home TeamColchesterAway TeamStevenage

Possession

Home60%

Away40%

Shots

Home18

Away3

Shots on Target

Home7

Away1

Corners

Home15

Away1

Fouls

Home8

Away11

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Colchester United 1, Stevenage 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Colchester United 1, Stevenage 2.

Posted at 90'+5'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Joel Byrom.

Posted at 90'+3'

Harry Pell (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Joel Byrom (Stevenage).

Booking

Posted at 88'

Paul Farman (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Stevenage. Johnny Hunt replaces Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Booking

Posted at 85'

Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 85'

Ryan Jackson (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Stevenage).

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Stevenage. Ronnie Henry replaces Ben Kennedy.

Goal!

Posted at 83'

Goal! Colchester United 1, Stevenage 2. Luke Prosser (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Eastman following a corner.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Paul Farman.

Posted at 82'

Attempt saved. Mikael Mandron (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 81'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Ben Nugent.

Posted at 81'

Attempt blocked. Sammie Szmodics (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Sammie Szmodics (Colchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 76'

Luke Prosser (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Alex Revell (Stevenage).

Posted at 75'

Foul by Ryan Jackson (Colchester United).

Posted at 75'

Alex Revell (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 74'

Ryan Jackson (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Colchester United. Mikael Mandron replaces Luke Norris.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Tom Eastman (Colchester United).

Posted at 72'

Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Stevenage. Alex Revell replaces Danny Newton.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Kane Vincent-Young.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Colchester United. Courtney Senior replaces Tom Lapslie.

Posted at 66'

Attempt missed. Luke Norris (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a set piece situation.

Booking

Posted at 65'

Terence Vancooten (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 65'

Brennan Dickenson (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Terence Vancooten (Stevenage).

Posted at 58'

Attempt missed. Ryan Jackson (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Booking

Posted at 56'

Luke Prosser (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 56'

Foul by Luke Prosser (Colchester United).

Posted at 56'

Kurtis Guthrie (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 55'

Attempt saved. Luke Norris (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 54'

Brennan Dickenson (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 54'

Foul by Terence Vancooten (Stevenage).

Posted at 53'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Danny Newton.

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