Match ends, Colchester United 1, Stevenage 2.
ColchesterColchester United1StevenageStevenage2
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
Colchester
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 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
Formation 4-4-2
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 1, Stevenage 2.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Joel Byrom.
Post update
Harry Pell (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Joel Byrom (Stevenage).
Booking
Paul Farman (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Johnny Hunt replaces Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Booking
Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ryan Jackson (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Stevenage).
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Ronnie Henry replaces Ben Kennedy.
Goal!
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.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Paul Farman.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mikael Mandron (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Ben Nugent.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sammie Szmodics (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
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.
Post update
Luke Prosser (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alex Revell (Stevenage).
Post update
Foul by Ryan Jackson (Colchester United).
