Scunthorpe moved out of the League One relegation zone at the expense of fellow strugglers Colchester United, who suffered a ninth successive loss.

Dominic Samuel and Gavin Massey both went close for the U's early on, while home keeper Mark Cousins denied Akpo Sodje, Jimmy Ryan and Andy Barcham.

Ryan's 25-yard shot put Scunthorpe ahead and Karl Hawley's close-range strike made it 2-0 after the interval.

Substitute Freddie Sears fired the ball in from close range to make it 2-1.

But although Colchester pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages, Scunthorpe held on and were unable to prevent a club record ninth successive league defeat.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws told BBC Radio Humberside:

"It was always going to be a tough game, but we're delighted because it was that game we wanted to win to get out of the bottom four.

"But it's only a small step, that's all it is. Let's not get carried away and I've told the players that, but we're undefeated in 2013 which is good.

"It was hard work and we had to work harder than them. I thought at times that we played really, really well and we looked in good control.

"It's a battle - we're in a dogfight. There's going to be times when it's good and there's going to be times when it's ugly, and we have to defend as a team when it's ugly."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Colchester United

  • 01 Cousins
  • 03 Rose
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 20 Wilson
  • 40 Thompson Booked
  • 41 Clifford
  • 15 Bean (Morrison - 46' )
  • 28 Gilbey
  • 30 Wright (Porter - 69' )
  • 12 Samuel (Sears - 46' )
  • 21 Massey

Substitutes

  • 35 Pentney
  • 06 Heath
  • 25 White
  • 32 Sanderson
  • 39 Porter
  • 09 Morrison
  • 11 Sears

Scunthorpe United

  • 01 Slocombe
  • 03 Kennedy
  • 06 Reid
  • 15 Canavan
  • 21 Newey
  • 07 Ryan (Mirfin - 90' )
  • 19 Collins
  • 09 Sodje (Godden - 81' )
  • 10 Grella
  • 11 Barcham
  • 22 Hawley

Substitutes

  • 13 Severn
  • 05 Mirfin
  • 20 Howe
  • 04 Walker
  • 14 Gibbons
  • 17 Godden
  • 28 Adelakun
Ref: Stroud
Att: 3,258

Match Stats

Shots

20 12

On target

14 6

Corners

6 7

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:38 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +1:50 Substitution

Substitution David Mirfin comes on in place of Jimmy Ryan.

90:00 +1:50

Andy Barcham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian Wilson. Direct free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

88:06

Corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line.

87:51

Foul by Matt Godden on Michael Rose, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michael Rose.

84:46

Foul by Andy Barcham on Billy Clifford, free kick awarded. Billy Clifford takes the free kick.

80:29 Substitution

Substitution Matt Godden joins the action as a substitute, replacing Akpo Sodje.

79:43

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jimmy Ryan, Brian Wilson manages to make a clearance.

78:23

Gavin Massey has a drilled shot. Sam Slocombe makes a save.

75:01

Shot by Billy Clifford. Sam Slocombe makes a save.

72:42

Unfair challenge on Niall Canavan by Josh Thompson results in a free kick. Sam Slocombe takes the free kick.

67:37 Substitution

Substitution George Porter is brought on as a substitute for Drey Wright.

67:37

Corner taken right-footed by Jimmy Ryan from the left by-line, Header from deep inside the area by Akpo Sodje goes over the bar.

65:09

Drilled right-footed shot by Freddie Sears. Niall Canavan gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line, Unfair challenge on Niall Canavan by Magnus Okuonghae results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

64:04

Shot by Freddie Sears from 18 yards. Niall Canavan gets a block in.

61:56

Inswinging corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line.

61:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clinton Morrison by Tom Newey. Michael Rose restarts play with the free kick.

60:16

Josh Thompson takes a shot. Mike Grella gets a block in. Freddie Sears takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Sam Slocombe makes a save.

59:45

The offside flag is raised against Akpo Sodje. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Rose.

58:21

The assist for the goal came from Clinton Morrison.

58:21 Goal scored

Goal - Freddie Sears - Colchester 1 - 2 Scunthorpe Freddie Sears gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Colchester 1-2 Scunthorpe.

57:02

Unfair challenge on Magnus Okuonghae by Akpo Sodje results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michael Rose.

56:00

Foul by Mike Grella on Michael Rose, free kick awarded. Michael Rose restarts play with the free kick.

55:12

Shot by Karl Hawley from inside the box hits the post.

53:39

Corner taken left-footed by Callum Kennedy, Gavin Massey manages to make a clearance.

52:59

Andy Barcham fouled by Michael Rose, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Newey takes the free kick.

51:39

Shot by Billy Clifford from 20 yards. Blocked by Paul Reid. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Michael Rose.

49:56

Long range shot by Billy Clifford goes wide right of the target.

49:18

Mike Grella concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Rose. Michael Rose takes the free kick.

46:56

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Callum Kennedy,

46:56 Booking

Booking Josh Thompson receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

46:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Akpo Sodje by Josh Thompson.

45:25 Goal scored

Goal - Karl Hawley - Colchester 0 - 2 Scunthorpe Karl Hawley finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Colchester 0-2 Scunthorpe.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Clinton Morrison replaces Marcus Bean.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears comes on in place of Dominic Samuel.

45:00 +1:14 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

44:23

Karl Hawley is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

43:58

Marcus Bean concedes a free kick for a foul on Mike Grella. Direct free kick taken by Niall Canavan.

42:22

Michael Rose concedes a free kick for a foul on Karl Hawley. Jimmy Ryan has an effort direct from the free kick.

40:39 Goal scored

Goal - Jimmy Ryan - Colchester 0 - 1 Scunthorpe Jimmy Ryan grabs a goal from a long way out to the top right corner of the goal. Colchester 0-1 Scunthorpe.

40:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Collins by Billy Clifford. Michael Collins takes the direct free kick.

38:04

The referee blows for offside against Marcus Bean. Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

36:02

Dominic Samuel fouled by Paul Reid, the ref awards a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Michael Rose, blocked by Tom Newey.

31:52

Billy Clifford takes a shot. Niall Canavan gets a block in. Corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line, Josh Thompson takes a shot. Blocked by Akpo Sodje.

29:36

Andy Barcham takes a shot. Billy Clifford makes a clearance. Corner taken by Callum Kennedy, clearance by Brian Wilson. Corner taken right-footed by Jimmy Ryan from the left by-line, clearance by Drey Wright.

28:50

Akpo Sodje has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save by Mark Cousins. Dominic Samuel takes a shot. Save by Sam Slocombe.

26:46

Effort from the edge of the box by Gavin Massey goes wide of the right-hand upright.

25:26

Unfair challenge on Michael Collins by Billy Clifford results in a free kick. Sam Slocombe takes the direct free kick.

25:02

Dominic Samuel takes a shot. Niall Canavan gets a block in.

24:12

Andy Barcham produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

21:51

Dominic Samuel has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

19:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Niall Canavan on Marcus Bean. Michael Rose has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, Karl Hawley gets a block in. Michael Rose takes a shot. Callum Kennedy gets a block in.

18:20

Mike Grella has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

17:30

The assistant referee flags for offside against Marcus Bean. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

17:11

Drey Wright takes a shot. Tom Newey gets a block in.

12:05

Shot by Jimmy Ryan. Save made by Mark Cousins.

10:49

Karl Hawley has a drilled shot. Magnus Okuonghae gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Callum Kennedy from the right by-line, clearance made by Marcus Bean. Inswinging corner taken by Jimmy Ryan, Marcus Bean makes a clearance.

9:13

The assistant referee signals for offside against Akpo Sodje. Mark Cousins takes the indirect free kick.

8:48

Akpo Sodje challenges Marcus Bean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Rose takes the free kick.

8:10

Shot from just outside the box by Michael Rose misses to the left of the goal.

5:57

The assistant referee flags for offside against Dominic Samuel. Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

5:25

Brian Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Barcham. Michael Collins takes the direct free kick.

4:51

Billy Clifford concedes a free kick for a foul on Karl Hawley. Free kick taken by Tom Newey.

4:04

Akpo Sodje is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Mark Cousins takes the indirect free kick.

1:23

Effort on goal by Dominic Samuel from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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