Colchester United surrendered a one-goal lead to lose at home to Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

The U's had led through Drey Wright's seventh-minute opener but Stanley hit back with two second-half goals in the space of ten minutes through Romuald Boco and Billy Kee, to claim all three points at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

U’s head coach John McGreal made one change to his starting line-up for their game against Accrington.

Lewis Kinsella was recalled at left-back, with Brennan Dickenson dropping to the bench after suffering a slight hamstring injury in training, at the end of last week.

Craig Slater retained his place in central midfield to make his first home league start for Colchester, while Tarique Fosu also made his maiden start at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester started brightly and almost took a fourth-minute lead when Stanley defender Matty Pearson cleared Tarique Fosu’s effort off the line after the U's winger had latched onto Sam Walker’s clearance and got the better of Zac Vyner.

But the U’s took the lead three minutes later when Wright found space 25 yards from goal and drilled a fine right-foot low shot past former U’s keeper Elliott Parish and into the net.

It was the sixth time in nine league games that the U’s have scored in the first 15 minutes but Stanley almost levelled soon after when Walker tipped the unmarked Pearson’s far post header away from Sean McConville’s free-kick into the area.

Wright sent a low shot straight at Parish and Richard Brindley’s long-range effort dipped just over the bar after a patient build-up, as the U’s went in at the break deservedly ahead.

The second half started in quiet fashion and Accrington were level just before the hour when a U’s attack broke down and Boco raced from inside his own half before planting a low shot home, with the help of a deflection off Lewis Kinsella.

Colchester’s response was to send on Denny Johnstone for Chris Porter, as they looked to recover from the setback of conceding.

But they fell behind just after the midway point in the second half when Kee tapped home from three yards after Scotty Brown had got clear in the area and picked him out.

Femi Akinwande and Dickenson were sent on by Colchester in a bid to force an equaliser and Accrington midfielder Scotty Brown was sent off in stoppage-time after receiving a second yellow card.

But despite six minutes of stoppage time added on at the end, the U's were unable to avoid defeat.

For five pages of coverage of the U’s game with Accrington, see Monday’s Daily Gazette.