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Newport County's play-off hopes suffered another blow as Colchester United inflicted a third successive defeat on the promotion hopefuls.

Dom Telford put the Exiles ahead when he touched a high ball beyond onrushing Colchester goalkeeper Shamal George.

Colchester equalised when substitute John Akinde got a faint touch after a corner, his first goal for the U's.

Akinde then turned provider, setting up Noah Chilvers as the visitors claimed the winner with a swift counter-attack.

Newport are now three points off the play-off places having played at least a game more than their rivals, while Colchester rise to 15th.

Newport County manager James Rowberry said:

"Ultimately we've let ourselves down with individual errors that cost us the goals tonight.

"Tactically they've not broken us down, tactically they've not done anything to us - it's just individual errors.

"I'm really pleased for Dom [goal-scorer Telford], I thought our first half was excellent and our second half wasn't excellent.

"In many ways that's the story of the time since I've been here, where we can't really put two halves together."