MATCH REPORT: COLCHESTER UNITED (A)

The Exiles made two changes from their last league outing, with Darren Jones and Jennison Myrie-Williams being involved from the start, with Sean Rigg and Mark Randall dropping to the bench. 

County began the game with the centre-back trio of Darren Jones, Scot Bennett and Paul Bignot, with Dan Butler and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb occupying wing-back positions.

The hosts made two changes, with Winter coming in for Prosser, who had previously played every minute this season, and Chris Porter making his way into the team at the expense of Denny Johnstone.

Inside the opening ten minutes, County were able to register the first shot on target when Jazzi Barnum-Bobb was able to advance down the right-wing and find Reece Grego-Cox, who launched a powerful effort on goal that was held by Sam Walker.

County looked to exploit the home side down both wings and it was Rhys Healey who was able to carve inside from the left and narrowly place a curling effort past the post, after the striker had down well to control a bouncing ball forward by Darren Jones.

The home sides had chances and it was Drey Wright who was first to test Joe Day, as the winger was able to latch onto a deep cross and send a powerful volley towards goal that had to be pushed past the post by the County 'keeper.

Wright was involved again just before the break, as his long-range effort advanced towards goal with pace with the ball clipping the post on its way behind for a goal-kick

In the opening stages of the second half, the hosts had an opportunity to open the scoring when a dangerous cross from the right found Kurtis Guthrie free in the area and the forward sent an effort narrowly past the post from close-range.

County responded with a chance of their own when a corner from Grego-Cox found Darren Jones at the far post. The defender was able to time a jump well, but his header was directed narrowly past the post.

During the second half chances were hard to come by, with both teams struggling to build a string of passes in and around the opponents penalty area.

The Exiles mustered two changes inside the final ten minutes, the first coming as a result of neat footwork by Marlon Jackson, which allowed the striker to pick out Sean Rigg, who launched a shot at goal that was charged down. The second opportunity fell to Jackson himself when the striker rose well to latch onto a cross into the area by Ben Tozer, but the striker's header was held well by Walker.

STARTING XI: Day, Butler, Barnum-Bobb, Bennett, Bignot, Jones, Grego-Cox (79' Green), Tozer, Myrie-Williams (66' Rigg), Healey (74' Jackson) , Parkin

SUBS: Bittner, Jackson, Green, Rigg, Randall, Compton, Angel

BOOKINGS: Jazzi Barnum-Bobb

REFEREE: M Haywood

ATTENDANCE: 3,088 (157 away)