Colchester United 0-2 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere secured a sixth successive victory with an impressive triumph at fellow League Two play-off hopefuls Colchester.

Goals from James Norwood and David Perkins means Rovers are just five points behind third-placed MK Dons, and with a game in hand to inspire hopes of claiming an automatic promotion spot.

Sammie Szmodics initially went close for Colchester early on, while at the other end Norwood was within inches of converting an Ollie Banks cross.

Norwood grabbed his 28th goal of the season in the 23rd minute, confidently lifting the ball past U's keeper Dillon Barnes from a fine defence-splitting pass from Perkins.

Colchester came close to an equaliser just before the break, with Ryan Jackson's long-range effort flying just over, while Abo Eisa saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Scott Davies.

Tranmere, though, doubled their lead just 43 seconds after the restart with Perkins firing in from close range after Barnes had clawed out Connor Jennings' effort following Jake Caprice's break down the right.

After a deflected shot from Caprice sailed inches wide just after the hour, Colchester came agonisingly close midway through the second half when Eisa's free-kick was pushed onto the inside of a post by Davies.

But it was not to be for Colchester who are four points adrift of the play-off places.

Match report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Colchester

• 1Barnes
• 2Jackson
• 5Prosser
• 6KentBooked at 76mins
• 22Vincent-Young
• 4LapslieSubstituted forNorrisat 66'minutes
• 24Stevenson
• 7Senior
• 10Szmodics
• 39Eisa
• 19MandronSubstituted forDickensonat 81'minutes

Substitutes

• 9Norris
• 11Dickenson
• 16Wright
• 27Chilvers
• 29Ross
• 35Kensdale
• 47Miller

Tranmere

• 1Davies
• 14Caprice
• 16EllisBooked at 25mins
• 6Monthe
• 3Ridehalgh
• 11JenningsBooked at 53mins
• 28BanksSubstituted forHarrisat 71'minutes
• 17PerkinsBooked at 84mins
• 12McCullough
• 27PringleSubstituted forMorrisat 62'minutes
• 10Norwood

Substitutes

• 4Nelson
• 8Harris
• 9Mullin
• 19Morris
• 22Gilmour
• 25Pilling
• 29Dagnall

Referee:

Ross Joyce

Attendance:

3,800

Match Stats

Home TeamColchesterAway TeamTranmere

Possession

Home44%

Away56%

Shots

Home11

Away8

Shots on Target

Home2

Away5

Corners

Home3

Away1

Fouls

Home12

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Colchester United 0, Tranmere Rovers 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Colchester United 0, Tranmere Rovers 2.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Brennan Dickenson (Colchester United).

Posted at 90'+3'

Jake Caprice (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Ryan Jackson (Colchester United).

Posted at 90'+1'

James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Kane Vincent-Young (Colchester United).

Posted at 90'

Jay Harris (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Brennan Dickenson (Colchester United).

Posted at 89'

James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Attempt blocked. James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 85'

Abobaker Eisa (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Luke McCullough (Tranmere Rovers).

Booking

Posted at 84'

David Perkins (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 84'

Abobaker Eisa (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by David Perkins (Tranmere Rovers).

Posted at 83'

Attempt saved. James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Kane Vincent-Young (Colchester United).

Posted at 83'

James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Colchester United. Brennan Dickenson replaces Mikael Mandron.

Posted at 79'

Luke Norris (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Liam Ridehalgh (Tranmere Rovers).

Booking

Posted at 76'

Frankie Kent (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Frankie Kent (Colchester United).

Posted at 76'

James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Ryan Jackson (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 73'

Foul by James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers).

Posted at 72'

Luke Norris (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Jay Harris (Tranmere Rovers).

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Jay Harris replaces Oliver Banks.

Posted at 71'

Frankie Kent (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Oliver Banks (Tranmere Rovers).

Posted at 69'

Abobaker Eisa (Colchester United) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

Posted at 69'

Courtney Senior (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by David Perkins (Tranmere Rovers).

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Colchester United. Luke Norris replaces Tom Lapslie.

Posted at 64'

Corner, Tranmere Rovers. Conceded by Luke Prosser.

Posted at 64'

Attempt saved. Jake Caprice (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Substitution

Posted at 62'

Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Kieron Morris replaces Ben Pringle.

Posted at 62'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Emmanuel Monthe.

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