Colchester's automatic promotion hopes suffered a blow after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Stevenage, who claimed a first away win since October.

The game was delayed for 15 minutes after the visitors' coach broke down on the way to the ground.

But Boro took a fifth-minute lead when Ben Nugent's header stuck a post and went in off Colchester goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin following Joel Byrom's free-kick into the area.

Stevenage keeper Paul Farman denied Harry Pell but the visitors doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time through Danny Newton, who tapped in from two yards after Kurtis Guthrie had headed Jamal Campbell-Ryce's deep cross back across goal.

Farman denied both Frank Nouble and Sammie Szmodics in first-half stoppage-time and Colchester substitute Mikael Mandron's header rattled a post for the hosts.

Colchester eventually pulled a goal back with seven minutes remaining through skipper Luke Prosser, who touched in from close range after Tom Eastman had headed Brennan Dickenson's corner towards goal, but the hosts could not salvage a draw.

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