Colchester punish Cobblers

Platt: Opened scoring

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Northampton missed a chance to make it three wins on the bounce as they lost 2-1 against a Colchester side picking up their second win in five days.

Following the excellent midweek victory over Leeds, Northampton looked stale and Colchester dominated the first half.

They should have taken the lead when Chris Coyne headed over from Johnnie Jackson's corner but they did go in front in the 23rd minute when Clive Platt was left unmarked to head home Dean Hammond's cross.

Three minutes later Paul Reid doubled Colchester's lead when he headed home another Jackson corner against his old club.

Ryan Gilligan and Scott McGleish both went close just before the break as Northampton looked to get back in the game.

They reduced the arrears eight minutes after the restart after Danny Jackman's free-kick deflected off the defensive wall to give debutant Jimmy Walker no chance in the Colchester goal,

Northampton got on top and looked as though they would earn at least a point. Substitutes Nicholas Bignall and Andy Holt both went close, Leon Constantine cut into the box but shot over and Liam Davis was just inches wide with a diving header in stoppage time.

But Colchester also had chances on the break and Jermaine Easter should have done better after beating the offside trap.