Colchester United suffered their first defeat in seven matches this afternoon when they were beaten 1-0 by fellow in-form side Bury at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Leon Clarke's far post header with 15 minutes remaining proved the difference between the two sides in a tight contest.

And Tony Humes' team will feel they deserved more from a contest where they found the Shakers' goalkeeper Rob Lainton in fine form.

Colchester were hoping to record a fifth successive win for the first time since 2006 against a Bury side who had won their last six matches.

But it was a quiet start to the contest, with both teams showing respect to one another and rightly so, given their respective fine runs.

The Shakers marginally enjoyed the better of the possession in the opening quarter of the match and their confidence was befitting of a side that has enjoyed such a great run of form.

The U's attacking players were afforded little or no room to play in the visitors half, against a strong and physical Bury side.

But Colchester warmed to the task as the half wore on, with George Moncur firing straight at keeper Lainton midway through the first half.

The U’s came even close to scoring soon after when Lainton made a magnificent save to deny Joe Edwards’ long-range effort.

Lainton again foiled Moncur and Colchester’s penalty appeals fell on deaf ears when Gavin Massey went down under Chris Hussey’s challenge in the area.

But Bury came a lick of paint away from scoring just before half-time through Hussey, whose excellent free-kick from the edge of the area rattled the frame of the goal.

Colchester pressed for a breakthrough in the minutes that preceded half-time, with Lainton by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

The Shakers shot-stopper denied both Marvin Sordell and George Moncur, who had burst through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat following Matt Briggs’ pass.

And Lainton was in fine form again on the hour, making a great top to foil Gavin Massey from point-blank range following Sordell’s fine pass in the area.

Colchester had a penalty appeal rejected when substitute Tom Pope appeared to handle Callum Harriott's cross in the area but the deadlock was broken by the visitors with 15 minutes to go when Clarke rose to head home Joe Riley's deep cross at the far post.

Colchester battled hard for an equaliser after that but it was not to be as their winning run was ended.

For five pages of coverage of the U’s game with Bury, see Monday’s Daily Gazette.