Colchester United were beaten 4-2 by leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in a thrilling game at Molineux.

The U's went in trailing 3-0 at half-time, following goals from Michael Jacobs, Dave Edwards and James Henry.

But a spirited second-half display saw the U's draw back to 3-2, thanks to strikes from Alex Gilbey and David Wright.

The U's pushed for an equaliser after that and substitute Freddie Sears struck a post with a low shot, with four minutes to go.

But as they were pushing to make it 3-3, Wolves broke away and substitute Nouha Dicko rounded off the home side's win.

Colchester found themselves behind after just 51 seconds.
 

In Wolves’ first attack of the game, Michael Jacobs collected possession on the left and swung in a left-footed cross that eluded everyone in the area including goalkeeper Sam Walker and bounced into the net.
 

And Colchester were 2-0 down when Ryan Dickson’s under-hit back pass midway inside his own half allowed Dave Edwards to latch on to the ball and go past Walker before tucking it into an empty net.

Wolves scored a third two minutes before the break when James Henry converted after Leon Clarke had initially been denied by Walker.

At 3-0 down at half-time, Colchester looked down and out.

But Gilbey gave them renewed hope when he headed in Dominic Vose's floated delivery, just before the hour.

And when Wright smashed in from Sears' low cross 14 minutes later, it was game on.

Sears came agonisingly close to equalising when his low shot came back off the woodwork, as the U's pressed for a leveller.

But substitute Dicko raced away in stoppage-time to seal Wolves win, as most of Molineux breathed a huge collective sigh of relief.

For a fulll match report and pictures from Colchester's game with Wolves, see Wednesday's Daily Gazette.