Colchester United are defeated at Walsall in League Two

Isaac Hutchinson's magnificent long-range strike midway through the second half proved the difference between the two sides, as the U's run without a win at the venue stretched to six games.

Colchester pushed for an equaliser after going behind but Walsall looked the more potent attacking force and deserved their victory overall.

Colchester made two changes to their starting line-up for the game at Walsall.

Fiacre Kelleher and Alex Newby were recalled, with Nico Lawrence missing out due to injury and Junior Tchamadeu having left to join Stoke City late on deadline day.

One of Colchester’s four deadline day signings, Zach Mitchell, was on the bench.

Walsall started well and Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman did well to push away Jamille Matt’s goalbound header from Liam Gordon’s deep cross, in the 11th minute.

The Saddlers then had a penalty appeal rejected two minutes later when Tom Knowles tumbled under Mandela Egbo’s challenge in the area.

Walsall continued to threaten and Freddie Draper's effort from eight yards was blocked at the last second, after Gordon did well to go past Will Greenidge and cut inside the U's area.

Isaac Hutchinson, who impressed for Walsall in the first half, then came inches away from scoring when he collected the ball up on the left flank before curling in a shot that flew just past Goodman's far post.

Colchester continued to defend and they almost fell behind to a spectacular strike, in the 24th minute.

Draper’s superb overhead kick dropped just wide of the post, after Oisin McEntee had helped the ball on in the U's area.

Colchester spent most of the first half in defensive mode but they improved as the half wore on, aided by the introduction of Matt Jay for Newby.

Noah Chilvers registered the U’s first shot on target with a low effort straight at goalkeeper Owen Evans, before a brilliant counter-attack by the U's started by Jayden Fevrier near his own corner flag resulted in Arthur Read's curling effort being pushed away by Evans.

Walsall started the second half well and almost went ahead seven minutes after the break when Hutchinson controlled well in the area before drilling in a cross-shot that flew across the face of the U's six-yard box.

The Saddlers then had the ball in the Colchester net from an inswinging free-kick but the assistant referee's flag was up early and the effort was ruled out.

But the deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute when Hutchinson controlled 25 yards from goal before lashing a magnificent strike into the top corner of the net, leaving U's keeper Goodman with no chance.

Colchester looked for a route back into the contest and with 15 minutes remaining, Arthur Read's free-kick dropped just wide of the post.

Evans made a brilliant save to palm away skipper Connor Hall's header from close range from Chilvers' ball into the area, before Donervon Daniels made an acrobatic clearance on the line to scramble away from under the nose of Fiacre Kelleher.

Five minutes were added on at the end and Hall came agonisingly close to equalising in the final minute when his header was brilliantly turned over the bar by Evans.

But Colchester could not muster an equaliser, as they fell to defeat.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Goodman, Greenidge (sub Bandeira, 73), Kelleher, Hall, Egbo, Read, Chilvers, Newby (sub Jay, 35), Fevrier (sub Kazeem, 73), Taylor (sub Ihionvien, 60), Tovide.

Substitutes (not used): Mitchell, Thomas, Smith.

Walsall: Evans, Gordon, McEntee, Daniels, Farquharson (sub Okagbue, 85), Knowles (sub Riley, 71), Draper, Allen, Stirk, Hutchinson, Matt (sub James-Taylor, 67).

Substitutes (not used): Oteh, Tierney, Johnson, Smith.

U's man of the match: Arthur Read.

Goals: Walsall: Hutchinson (66).

Bookings: Colchester: Taylor (foul, 54). Walsall: Farquharson (unsporting behaviour, 43), Evans (unsporting behaviour, 76), Draper (unsporting behaviour, 79), McEntee (unsporting behaviour, 87), Gordon (unsporting behaviour, 89).

Referee: Lee Swabey.

Attendance: 5,058 (242 U's fans).