Anthony Wordsworth's first-half strike gave Colchester all three points and condemned managerless Hartlepool to their eighth consecutive home defeat.

The only goal came when Brian Wilson's floated ball found Wordsworth, who scored at the second attempt after Scott Flinders saved his initial shot.

Karl Duguid and Ian Henderson had already gone close for the visitors.

Hartlepool's best efforts came from James Poole and Antony Sweeney but they could not find a breakthrough.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOMS.

Colchester United manager John Ward told BBC Essex:

"It was the proverbial game of two halves. We played very well with some good football in the first period.

"You expect the home team to come back at you which they did.

"We had a fair bit of defending to do, but my goalkeeper didn't have to make the saves he made last week. So it was a really strong performance throughout."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Hartlepool United

  • 01 Flinders
  • 02 Austin
  • 05 Collins
  • 06 Horwood
  • 18 Baldwin Booked
  • 04 Liddle
  • 11 Monkhouse
  • 15 Sweeney
  • 20 Murray (Solano - 73' )
  • 07 Brown (James - 46' )
  • 08 Poole (Boyd - 74' )

Substitutes

  • 16 Haslam
  • 03 Humphreys
  • 24 Solano
  • 33 James
  • 10 Boyd

Colchester United

  • 01 Williams
  • 03 Rose
  • 04 Okuonghae Booked
  • 06 Heath
  • 20 Wilson Booked
  • 14 Bond
  • 22 Wordsworth Booked
  • 23 James (Izzet - 62' )
  • 27 Duguid
  • 15 Odejayi
  • 16 Henderson

Substitutes

  • 18 Eastman
  • 08 O'Toole
  • 10 Izzet
  • 24 Coker
  • 09 Gillespie
Ref: Ilderton
Att: 4,029

Match Stats

Shots

8 12

On target

6 6

Corners

6 2

Fouls

14 13

Live Text Commentary

93:05 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +1:58

Shot by Luke James. Save by Ben Williams.

90:00 +0:39

Foul by Nolberto Solano on Kemal Izzet, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.

89:43

Sam Collins challenges Kayode Odejayi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Henderson.

85:46

Effort on goal by Andy Monkhouse from 18 yards. Save made by Ben Williams.

83:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kemal Izzet by Antony Sweeney. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.

82:49

Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

82:49 Booking

Booking Anthony Wordsworth booked.

82:01

Anthony Wordsworth challenges Jack Baldwin unfairly and gives away a free kick.

80:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kemal Izzet by Nolberto Solano. Michael Rose takes the direct free kick.

78:36

Foul by Neil Austin on Matt Heath, free kick awarded. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.

77:25

Shot from just outside the box by Andy Bond misses to the left of the goal.

75:17

Inswinging corner taken by Evan Horwood, Andy Monkhouse takes a shot. Blocked by Brian Wilson. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Evan Horwood, Ben Williams makes a save.

73:54

Neil Austin takes a shot. Save made by Ben Williams.

72:17 Substitution

Substitution Adam Boyd comes on in place of James Poole.

72:17 Substitution

Substitution Nolberto Solano is brought on as a substitute for Paul Murray.

72:17

A cross is delivered by Brian Wilson, Shot on goal by Ian Henderson from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

71:05

Sam Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kayode Odejayi. Michael Rose takes the direct free kick.

70:33

Foul by Andy Monkhouse on Michael Rose, free kick awarded. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.

69:52

Centre by Brian Wilson, clearance by Neil Austin.

69:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kayode Odejayi by Gary Liddle. Kemal Izzet takes the direct free kick.

67:03 Booking

Booking Brian Wilson receives a yellow card.

66:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Poole by Brian Wilson. Evan Horwood takes the direct free kick.

65:51

Corner taken by Evan Horwood played to the near post, Ben Williams makes a save.

64:40

Magnus Okuonghae challenges James Poole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Evan Horwood delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Michael Rose manages to make a clearance.

63:20

Free kick taken by Matt Heath.

63:20 Booking

Booking Jack Baldwin receives a caution.

63:13

Unfair challenge on Andy Bond by Jack Baldwin results in a free kick.

62:19

The official flags Ian Henderson offside. Scott Flinders takes the free kick.

61:37 Substitution

Substitution Kemal Izzet joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lloyd James.

57:23

Evan Horwood takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Anthony Wordsworth manages to make a clearance.

55:34

Foul by Lloyd James on Andy Monkhouse, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from Evan Horwood from the free kick.

54:31

The ball is crossed by Michael Rose.

54:01

Corner taken by Lloyd James from the left by-line played to the near post, Andy Monkhouse manages to make a clearance.

53:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Evan Horwood on Karl Duguid. Brian Wilson restarts play with the free kick.

51:47

Unfair challenge on Andy Monkhouse by Brian Wilson results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Neil Austin.

49:40

Luke James sends in a cross, Brian Wilson makes a clearance.

48:08

Inswinging corner taken by Evan Horwood, Anthony Wordsworth manages to make a clearance.

45:51

Luke James concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Henderson. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

45:03 Substitution

Substitution James Brown leaves the field to be replaced by Luke James.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:01 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:44

The ball is delivered by Antony Sweeney, clearance by Brian Wilson.

44:27

Unfair challenge on Kayode Odejayi by Gary Liddle results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Rose.

42:29

James Brown takes the direct free kick.

42:29 Booking

Booking Magnus Okuonghae receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

42:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Magnus Okuonghae on James Poole.

40:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Antony Sweeney by Michael Rose. Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

37:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Murray by Anthony Wordsworth. Antony Sweeney takes the free kick.

36:42

Effort on goal by Lloyd James from 20 yards. Blocked by Gary Liddle.

35:09

Brian Wilson provided the assist for the goal.

35:02

Ian Henderson crosses the ball, clearance made by Gary Liddle.

35:09

Assist on the goal came from Brian Wilson.

35:09 Goal scored

Goal - Anthony Wordsworth - Hartlepool 0 - 1 Colchester Anthony Wordsworth grabs a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hartlepool 0-1 Colchester.

35:02

Ian Henderson sends in a cross, clearance by Gary Liddle.

33:03

Brian Wilson is penalised for a handball. Gary Liddle takes the direct free kick.

32:34

The ball is swung over by Neil Austin, Magnus Okuonghae manages to make a clearance.

31:28

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Evan Horwood from the right by-line to the near post, Ben Williams makes a save.

30:59

The ball is swung over by Neil Austin, Magnus Okuonghae manages to make a clearance.

30:11

Shot by James Poole. Save made by Ben Williams.

29:11

Shot from 12 yards by Ian Henderson. Scott Flinders makes a save.

27:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Karl Duguid by Andy Monkhouse. Free kick taken by Brian Wilson.

26:15

Andy Bond has a drilled shot. Blocked by Sam Collins. The ball is swung over by Brian Wilson.

25:17

The assistant referee flags for offside against James Poole. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

22:32

Brian Wilson produces a cross, Ian Henderson produces a right-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

19:28

Lloyd James concedes a free kick for a foul on James Poole. Free kick crossed left-footed by Evan Horwood.

18:08

A cross is delivered by Andy Monkhouse, Ben Williams makes a save.

17:39

Andy Monkhouse sends in a cross, Andy Bond makes a clearance.

16:25

Shot by Paul Murray. Ben Williams makes a save.

15:57

Foul by Matt Heath on Andy Monkhouse, free kick awarded. Neil Austin restarts play with the free kick.

15:19

The official flags Kayode Odejayi offside. Gary Liddle takes the free kick.

14:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kayode Odejayi on Gary Liddle. Scott Flinders takes the free kick.

12:51

The ball is crossed by Michael Rose, Shot from close range by Karl Duguid misses to the right of the target.

12:21

Andy Bond sends in a cross, clearance by Gary Liddle.

11:12

Ian Henderson challenges Neil Austin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Evan Horwood takes the free kick.

10:45

The ball is sent over by James Brown, Lloyd James manages to make a clearance.

8:36

Ian Henderson takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Scott Flinders makes a save.

7:14

Foul by Neil Austin on Karl Duguid, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Michael Rose.

6:08

Shot from 18 yards by Andy Bond. Blocked by Antony Sweeney. Corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth, Shot on goal by Magnus Okuonghae from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

4:00

Shot from just outside the box by James Poole misses to the right of the goal.

3:04

Karl Duguid concedes a free kick for a foul on Evan Horwood. Scott Flinders restarts play with the free kick.

1:07

Ian Henderson produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

0:24

Neil Austin crosses the ball, Andy Bond makes a clearance.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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