DONCASTER ROVERS 2 COLCHESTER UNITED 0

League One

Colchester United were left still looking for their first back-to-back wins this season as they were unable to build on their win against Bristol City at Doncaster Rovers.

The U’s were left to rue a poor penalty by Chris Porter early in the game as they trailed to Enda Stevens’ goal at half-time and then Nathan Tyson showed Porter how to do it in the 83rd minute as he did find the back of the net from the spot to wrap up the points.

Colchester manager Tony Humes made two enforced changes from the side that beat Bristol City seven days before.

David Fox recovered from a hip injury that had kept him out against the Robins as he slotted straight back into the U’s midfield and reclaimed the captain’s armband.

Tom Lapslie was the player he replaced as the youngster was kept out by a knock he took to his ankle late on in the previous game.

The other change for Colchester came as Karleigh Osborne stepped straight into the starting 11 after his loan move from Bristol City on Thursday.

He began at centre-half with Alex Wynter moving to left-back in the back four and Matt Briggs dropping out of the matchday squad through illness.

Those changes didn’t alter the Colchester formation, though, as Humes stuck to the 4-4-2 line-up that had worked so effectively against the Robins.

They made another bright start, but it was the hosts who had the first real sight of goal when a fourth-minute corner was met by the head of Andy Butler and clattered back off the woodwork.

Colchester, cheered on by a vocal band of travelling supporters, steadied themselves, though, and earned a penalty in the 12th minute.

Sean Clohessy’s wonderful cross was placed temptingly in front of Chris Porter, but just as the U’s striker went to head for goal, he was shoved in the back by Luke McCullough and referee Peter Bankes pointed straight to the spot.

Porter picked himself up to take the kick but his effort was high and wide of the target with home keeper Stephen Bywater not troubled in the slightest.

Colchester put that disappointment behind them and Elliott Hewitt curled a shot just past the post as they matched their play-off chasing hosts.

However, they fell behind in the 40th minute.

A wicked bounce of the ball deceived Clohessy and that allowed Nathan Tyson to get away from him and pull the ball back to where Enda Stevens was waiting to slot it home.

It was perhaps harsh on the U’s that they trailed at the break as they had matched a Rovers side who were sitting seventh heading into the game.

The game was similarly tight after the restart and there were chances at both ends.

The closest Colchester came in the opening minutes of the half came when a cross from Clohessy found the head of Porter but the ball reared up on the U’s striker and he couldn’t keep it under the bar from three yards out.

They weren’t able to build on it, though, as their forward play became sluggish and chances to pierce the Doncaster back line became scarce.

The hosts managed to get on top and could have gone further ahead before they finally did in the 83rd minute.

U’s full-back Alex Wynter caught Dean Furman with a trailing leg as he tried to make a clearance and referee Bankes pointed straight at the spot.

Unfortunately for Colchester Tyson did a better job than Porter had done from the same penalty spot earlier in the game and stepped forward to drill a shot into the bottom right corner to kill any hopes Colchester may still have had.