Colchester United fell to a third successive defeat after losing 2-0 at promotion-chasing Peterborough United.

Goals from Tommy Rowe and Britt Assombalonga gave Posh a deserved victory and left the U's three points above the League One relegation zone, with six games to go.

Dominic Vose volleyed Clinton Morrison’s lofted cross over at the far post early on for Colchester.

But the U’s received a big let-off when Grant McCann’s fine effort came back off the inside of the far post, after the Northern Ireland international had advanced towards the edge of the U’s area.

Morrison then blocked a goalbound effort from close to his own goal-line soon after.

But Colchester eventually fell behind in the 26th minute when Peterborough skipper Tommy Rowe headed home McCann’s corner from six yards.

Peterborough felt they should have had a penalty eight minutes before the break when a powerful shot from former Braintree Town loanee Britt Assombalonga appeared to strike Magnus Okuonghae on the arm in the area.

And Colchester almost fell further behind nine minutes after the break when Danny Swanson dispossessed Ryan Dickson near the U’s area but drilled a low shot wide of the far post.

But Peterborough doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Assombalonga raced through to plant a fine shot past Sam Walker, after Okuonghae's attempted clearance had hit Danny Swanson.

For a full match report and pictures from the U's game at Peterborough, see Thursday's Daily Gazette.