Colchester 1-0 Lincoln: Sammie Szmodics hits winner

Sammie Szmodics' early goal was enough to give Colchester United a hard-earned 1-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Lincoln City at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Szmodics struck a third-minute winner from close range after Drey Wright had pounced on Mikael Mandron's incisive pass in the area and caused confusion in the Lincoln defence.

Lincoln goalkeeper Josh Vickers had to scramble away Mandron's close-range effort for a corner as Colchester went on the hunt for a second goal.

But the Imps were unfortunate not to equalise on the half hour when Nathan Arnold hit the bar with a brilliant free-kick from nearly 25 yards out.

Lincoln sent on Matt Rhead and Matt Green at half-time in a bid to find an equaliser but Colchester came close to doubling their lead on the hour through Szmodics, whose deflected effort was pushed away by Vickers.

Visiting defender Sean Raggett headed straight at U's stopper Sam Walker but Szmodics and Tom Eastman both went close for the hosts, who sealed a narrow win.