John Ward was left disappointed after seeing his Colchester United side lose 1-0 for the second successive game.

Antony Sweeney's close-range strike with two minutes to go gave Hartlepool United all three points against the U's, on a bobbly Victoria Park surface.

Colchester put pressure on the Pools goal after that and Steven Gillespie went close, but they were unable to salvage a point.

Ward said: "They put more pressure on us than we did them in the second period.

"They went very big and long which was right, on a poor surface.

"It was difficult to try and get it down and play which we tried to do and it didn't come off.

"They won it ugly a little bit and got the ball on top of us.

"They tried to get something out of a set play and that's exactly what happened.

"We've tried to score a nice goal but we've probably had the best chance of the game and Steven (Gillespie) has popped it over the bar.

"If you want it to fall to anybody it's Steven Gillespie but as it is, we're really upset with ourselves because it was a scrappy, scruffy game and we've got nothing to go home with."

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester United's defeat at Hartlepool United, see Monday's Gazette.