Newport County were defeated by two late goals as Colchester United won 2-0 at Rodney Parade on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors took the lead with two minutes of regular time remaining as centre back Fiacre Kelleher headed home. In injury time they doubled their lead as second half substitute, Anthony Scully, finished off a clinical counter attack.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made three changes to the side that faced Carlisle United, as Ciaran Brennan, Courtney Baker-Richardson and Kai Whitmore came into the starting eleven.
A late change to the lineup was made with Shane McLoughlin withdrawing due to injury as David Ajiboye replaced him in the starting eleven and Josh Martin came onto the bench. Kyle Hudlin also made his long-awaited return from injury as he came off the bench in the 71st minute.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors as the ball sat up nicely for Arthur Read whose strike from the edge of the box was narrowly wide of the bottom left corner.
Moments later, Read was again at the centre of a Colchester chance as he played Samson Tovide in behind the County backline. The number nine was unable to finish though as Nick Townsend closed down the angle and saved strongly.
Joe Thomas burst into life on his opposite wing as he knocked the ball past a U’s defender before he delivered a great cross into the back post that Courtney Baker-Richardson was unable to connect with.
On the 30th minute mark, County had their first shot of the game as Ajiboye did well to manoeuvre passed multiple Colchester men before he played the ball back to Whitmore. The midfielder spun around his defender but dragged his shot wide the of the mark.
The Exiles continued to build into the game with Ajiboye proving to be a bright spark as he forced Matt Macey to palm a shot into the path of Bobby Kamwa but the winger was unable to get an effort off from a tight angle.
Just before the half, Whitmore did brilliantly as he marauded forward from midfield and all the way to the edge of the box. With no options available to him for a pass he powered a low effort goalward but it was saved well by Macey who got down low to palm it around the post for a corner.
Half time
In a good start to the second half, Ciaran Brennan did well to win the ball back high up the field before he laid the ball off to Ajiboye who took one touch before he hammered the upright of the post with a powerful effort.
After some neat play around the edge of the box, the ball was played into the feet of Whitmore who caught the ball on the half volley. Unfortunately, he dragged his effort just wide of the right post.
Newport County put pressure on the U's defence as Kamwa did well to win a free kick on the left edge of the box. His subsequent effort from the free kick was fired left of the post as the winger tried to catch Macey out.
Following a spell of broken play with neither side able to make a breakthrough, Baker-Richardson did well to hold up the ball and drew a foul on the edge of the area. Kamwa once again took the free kick, this time he tested Macey who got his finger tips to his effort to push over the bar for a corner.
The visitors got the breakthrough in the 88th minute as Kelleher headed into the bottom right corner from an inswinging Mandela Egbo delivery.
County tried to hit back in injury time as Whitmore drove at the Colchester defence and beat two men before he played the ball across the box to Kamwa whose shot was wide of the mark.
With the last chance of the game Colchester doubled their lead as Edwards hit on the counter. The winger played through Scully who finished past Townsend.
Full time
Newport County: Townsend, Thomas, Brennan, Baker, Clarke(C), Glennon (K.Evans 62’), Antwi (Hudlin 71’), Ajiboye (Spellman 80’), Whitmore, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Kamwa.
Substitutes: Webb, Warner, Patten, Martin.
Colchester United: Macey, Iandolo, Kelleher, Flanagan (C), Tovide (Scully 67’), McDonnell, Read, Egbo, Edwards, Thorn (Lisbie 67’), Taylor (Simpson 12’(Gordon 76’).
Substitutes: Smith, Hunt, Tucker.
Attendance: 3899
Newport County return to Sky Bet League Two action on Friday afternoon (3pm) as they head to MK Dons.