Notts County thumped Colchester but missed out on a League One play-off place on goal difference to Stevenage.

Two headers from Jeff Hughes and Dan Bogdanovic and a fine dipping strike from 25 yards from Alan Judge gave County a 3-0 lead at the break.

Kieron Freeman made it 4-0, passing the ball into the far corner of the net, but Colchester pulled one back through Anthony Wordsworth from 18 yards.

But in the end it was all to no avail with County 13 goals shy of Stevenage.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Notts County manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"A big effort from all the players, the new staff that came in and also the existing staff. There's been a coming together of the football club. Yes, we didn't quite make it but there's a good spirit within the team which you need to be able to take it forward for next season.

"I'm very proud. It was a sensitive time when I took over, I knew the club had fragments and we needed to unite everybody within the football club and I think we've done that.

"As soon as I woke up this morning, positive frame of mind, I did honestly believe we were going to take this football club into the play-offs and then go up. Positive mental attitude you could call that but it was there for us and didn't quite work out so we wish the teams that are in the play-offs now continued success."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Notts County

  • 17 Nelson (Speiss - 74' )
  • 03 Sheehan
  • 04 Edwards
  • 20 Freeman
  • 35 Stewart
  • 10 Bishop (Mahon - 71' )
  • 11 J Hughes
  • 14 Judge
  • 32 Sam
  • 30 Adebola (L Hughes - 64' )
  • 40 Bogdanovic

Substitutes

  • 33 Speiss
  • 23 Harley
  • 07 Demontagnac
  • 31 Mahon
  • 09 L Hughes

Colchester United

  • 01 Williams
  • 03 Rose (Odejayi - 46' )
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 25 White
  • 14 Bond (Sears - 63' )
  • 22 Wordsworth
  • 23 James (O'Toole - 77' )
  • 27 Duguid
  • 16 Henderson

Substitutes

  • 06 Heath
  • 31 Hamilton
  • 08 O'Toole
  • 11 Sears
  • 15 Odejayi
Ref: Mathieson
Att: 8,942

Match Stats

Shots

10 13

On target

8 5

Corners

3 7

Fouls

12 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:36 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +2:39

Assist by Freddie Sears.

90:00 +2:39 Goal scored

Goal - Anthony Wordsworth - Notts Co 4 - 1 Colchester Anthony Wordsworth gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Notts County 4-1 Colchester.

90:00 +2:06

Alan Judge is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Ben Williams takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +1:30

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Freddie Sears, Mike Edwards makes a clearance.

89:25

Kayode Odejayi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mike Edwards. Alan Sheehan restarts play with the free kick.

88:21

Centre by Alan Sheehan, Karl Duguid makes a clearance.

87:43

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line, save made by Fabian Speiss.

87:19

Corner from the right by-line taken by Anthony Wordsworth, Kieron Freeman makes a clearance.

87:12

A cross is delivered by John-Joe O'Toole, clearance made by Jeff Hughes.

84:29

Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line played to the near post, Karl Duguid takes a shot. Save made by Fabian Speiss.

84:12

Ian Henderson takes a shot. Damion Stewart gets a block in.

83:28

Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Save by Fabian Speiss.

83:08

Anthony Wordsworth decides to take a short corner.

81:15

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.

78:40

Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Fabian Speiss makes a save.

79:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jeff Hughes on Freddie Sears. Anthony Wordsworth has an effort direct from the free kick.

78:40

Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Save by Kieron Freeman.

78:07

Kayode Odejayi concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Sheehan. Free kick taken by Alan Sheehan.

76:03

Centre by Alan Sheehan, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Alan Judge goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

76:03 Substitution

Substitution John-Joe O'Toole is brought on as a substitute for Lloyd James.

76:03

Anthony Wordsworth concedes a free kick for a foul on Kieron Freeman.

73:19

Fabian Speiss restarts play with the free kick.

73:19 Substitution

Substitution Fabian Speiss joins the action as a substitute, replacing Stuart Nelson.

73:19

The offside flag is raised against Kayode Odejayi.

72:56

Alan Judge takes a shot. Ben Williams gets a block in.

71:02

The ball is swung over by Brian Wilson, Header from deep inside the area by Tom Eastman goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

68:47

Lloyd James takes the free kick.

68:47 Substitution

Substitution Neal Bishop goes off and Gavin Mahon comes on.

68:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Wordsworth by Damion Stewart.

67:23

The referee blows for offside. Ben Williams takes the indirect free kick.

65:44

Lloyd James has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

64:59

Jeff Hughes gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Anthony Wordsworth. Magnus Okuonghae restarts play with the free kick.

63:18

Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

63:18 Substitution

Substitution (Notts County) makes a substitution, with Lee Hughes coming on for Dele Adebola.

63:18

The official flags Freddie Sears offside.

62:13 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears replaces Andy Bond.

61:13

Alan Judge takes the inswinging corner, save by Ben Williams.

56:56

Unfair challenge on Dele Adebola by John White results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kieron Freeman.

56:22

Effort on goal by Karl Duguid from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

55:48

Lloyd Sam delivers the ball.

55:16

Mike Edwards gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kayode Odejayi. Lloyd James takes the direct free kick.

54:50

Unfair challenge on John White by Lloyd Sam results in a free kick. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.

54:06

Alan Judge fouled by Brian Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Sheehan restarts play with the free kick.

52:59

Alan Judge takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.

50:04

Lloyd Sam provided the assist for the goal.

50:04 Goal scored

Goal - Kieron Freeman - Notts Co 4 - 0 Colchester Kieron Freeman finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Notts County 4-0 Colchester.

46:57

Foul by Damion Stewart on Kayode Odejayi, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Wordsworth.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Kayode Odejayi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Michael Rose.

45:00 +2:17 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:54

Brian Wilson takes a shot.

44:46

Centre by Ian Henderson, clearance made by Alan Sheehan.

42:49

The ball is crossed by Karl Duguid, Damion Stewart makes a clearance.

41:25

Centre by Brian Wilson, blocked by Alan Sheehan.

40:08 Goal scored

Goal - Alan Judge - Notts Co 3 - 0 Colchester Alan Judge grabs a fantastic goal from long range to the top left corner of the goal. Notts County 3-0 Colchester.

39:19

Anthony Wordsworth delivers the ball.

39:05

Anthony Wordsworth decides to take a short corner.

37:42

Damion Stewart gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Eastman. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.

37:08

Unfair challenge on Neal Bishop by Ian Henderson results in a free kick. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

35:24

Michael Rose delivers the ball, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

32:43

Assist by Alan Judge.

32:43 Goal scored

Goal - Daniel Bogdanovic - Notts Co 2 - 0 Colchester Daniel Bogdanovic finds the net with a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Notts County 2-0 Colchester.

31:58

Alan Judge takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.

29:37

Alan Sheehan delivers the ball, Header on goal by Dele Adebola from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

28:41

Neal Bishop fouled by Lloyd James, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mike Edwards.

27:57

Tom Eastman takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Nelson.

27:18

Dele Adebola gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John White. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Michael Rose, Jeff Hughes manages to make a clearance.

26:13

Foul by Lloyd Sam on Brian Wilson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Brian Wilson.

24:40

Inswinging corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line played to the near post, Alan Sheehan makes a clearance.

24:28

The ball is crossed by Karl Duguid, save by Stuart Nelson.

22:55

Assist by Alan Sheehan.

22:55 Goal scored

Goal - Jeff Hughes - Notts Co 1 - 0 Colchester Jeff Hughes scores a headed goal from close range. Notts County 1-0 Colchester.

22:42

Corner taken by Alan Sheehan from the right by-line,

20:53

Brian Wilson produces a cross.

20:36

Ian Henderson sends in a cross, Alan Sheehan manages to make a clearance.

19:01

Brian Wilson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

18:54

The ball is swung over by Michael Rose, clearance by Damion Stewart.

18:03

Ian Henderson is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

17:10

Lloyd Sam is ruled offside. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

15:07

The referee penalises Alan Judge for handball. Tom Eastman takes the free kick.

13:03

Ian Henderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mike Edwards. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

12:31

Unfair challenge on Michael Rose by Lloyd Sam results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John White.

10:49

Michael Rose fouled by Kieron Freeman, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Eastman restarts play with the free kick.

7:09

Dele Adebola challenges Tom Eastman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom Eastman.

6:11

Michael Rose concedes a free kick for a foul on Lloyd Sam. Direct free kick taken by Neal Bishop.

5:43

Centre by Alan Sheehan, clearance by Tom Eastman.

2:46

The ball is swung over by Anthony Wordsworth, Ian Henderson produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

2:07

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Alan Sheehan, save made by Ben Williams.

1:50

Jeff Hughes takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.

0:00

The game begins.

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