Colchester United got back to winning ways on Saturday, as two second half goals saw John McGreal's men defeat Newport County.

The U's had had the edge in the first forty-five minutes, and they stepped it up a level in the second half to earn all three points.

Ben Stevenson scored a debut goal with a clever finish, before Tom Eastman sealed the win with a close range goal with ten minutes to go.

It keeps the U's in touch with the play-off spots ahead of the long trip to Carlisle next week.

The U’s made three changes to their starting eleven, with Luke Prosser, Brandon Comley and Kurtis Guthrie coming into the side.

It was Courtney Senior causing trouble early on for the visiting defence and his quick feet saw the ball cleared only as far as Murray, who drove over the bar with a fierce effort.

It was a decent start from the U’s and Senior twice had shots deflected away for a corner as the home side pressed for an opener.

Newport had had to be patient for their sights of goal, but Tozer drove one over when a corner came out to him on the edge of the Colchester box.

It was the U’s who had the attacking edge, though, and Mandron’s driven cross on 25 minutes was skewed behind for a corner by O’Brien, who had just been booked for a foul on Guthrie.

As half time approached, the U’s had to see away a series of Tozer long throws into the box and they defended them manfully.

Things started to heat up as half time approached, and the visitors were finishing the half strongly with Prosser having to put his body on the line twice to deny goalbound shots.

The U’s captain then headed wide at the other end from a corner, and it was goalless at the break as neither side could find a route to goal.

Chances remained at a relative premium at the start of the second half, but Vincent-Young forced a good save out of Day with a low shot to the near post.

Senior continued to be the main threat and his shot was blocked in the box, before Stevenson was denied a chance when the ball fell to him.

And the two combined to put the U’s ahead on the hour mark. Senior drove forward forty yards and burst past several players, before setting it up for Stevenson to score with a cute finish at the near post.

Senior then repeated his feat with twenty minutes to go, but ran out of an angle to get a shot away. He set it back for Mandron, but he lifted his effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

The young forward had run himself into the ground and he was replaced with seventeen minutes to go by Sammie Szmodics.

Whilst Newport pressed for the equaliser, the U’s could have had a second with twelve to go as Guthrie was found in the box, but he hesitated and the moment was taken away from him.

But the U’s did get their second with ten minutes to go. Newport failed to clear a corner and it eventually fell to Eastman to stab home.

The U’s introduced Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe for the final five minutes plus injury time, as they looked to see out their advantage.

And they saw that time out without too many problems to run out comfortable winners and collect all three points.