Colchester United fell to defeat at Prenton Park after losing 2-1 to Tranmere Rovers this afternoon.
Colchester made the better start of the two teams and Jabo Ibehre stabbed a good chance wide in the opening four minutes.
And their chances were boosted when Tranmere bizarrely had to make two changes to their back four in the space of seven minutes when debutant Jon Otsemobor and veteran Ian Goodison both hobbled off in the opening stages.
Ibehre fired over under pressure after Tranmere goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams had pushed away Alex Gilbey’s low effort and at that stage, Colchester edging proceedings.
But U's keeper Sam Walker pushed away Tranmere skipper James Wallace’s shot.
And from the resultant corner, Wallace nodded on Chris Atkinson’s corner to allow Ryan Lowe to stoop to head in from close range.
Jim McNulty almost put through his own net when his defensive header dropped just past the lurking Ibehre and the far post, as Colchester went in at half-time trailing.
But Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro almost added to Tranmere's lead in the opening seconds of the second half when he fired wide from close range.
And the U's fell further behind ten minutes after the interval when Lowe scored his second of the game from the spot after Brian Wilson had fouled Akpa-Akpro in the area.
Substitute Macauley Bonne headed a good chance over from Ryan Dickson's cross into the area and substitute Clinton Morrison scored in stoppage-time to give the U's brief hope, but it proved only a consolation.
For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's game at Tranmere Rovers, see Monday's Daily Gazette.
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