SWINDON Town slipped to a third successive League One defeat, as Colchester United emerged from their trip to the County Ground with all three points.
The Robins conceded early to a George Moncur striker before Wes Thomas levelled midway through the opening period.
Callum Harriott restored Colchester’s advantage just before half-time and in a second period during which Nicky Ajose struck a post and Raphael Branco saw a header cleared off the line, neither side could add to their respective hauls.
Town manager Mark Cooper began the match with Henrik Ojamaa and Fabien Robert as wing-backs and the plan proved to be immediately flawed as, in the third minute, U’s full-back Matthew Briggs darted past the Estonian as if he wasn’t there to cross for Moncur to side-foot home.
Swindon had an opportunity to level in the 12th minute, when Nicky Ajose fed Thomas but the on-loan Birmingham City hitman failed to find the target from 12 yards out.
Moncur tested Ty Belford at his near post eight minutes later, with the Town keeper up to the task, before the Robins found a leveller with 21 minutes gone.
Robert clipped in a right-wing corner, Jordan Turnbull nodded the ball on and Thomas was on hand to smash home from close range.
Swindon, much improved going forward after insipid showings against Barnsley and Burton Albion, should have gone in front just after the half-hour. Yaser Kasim’s scything pass picked out the run of Ajose and, when the striker picked out Ojamaa arriving late at the back post a Town goal seemed inevitable.
However, a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Jamie Jones kept the ball out of the Colchester net.
All the positive energy was wasted two minutes before the break, though, as the visitors regained the lead. Marvin Sordell’s tidy flicked pass found the untracked run of Harriott, who beat Belford far too easily at his near post.
In the second period, Swindon pushed hard for an equaliser, with Turnbull’s header saved by Jones and Kasim finding the side-netting, but Colchester always looked likely to breach their hosts’ slovenly defence.
Belford took two attempts to claim a Moncur drive from the edge of the box before tipping Gavin Massey’s left-footed effort onto the crossbar, with Frankie Kent nodding the resulting corner narrowly wide.
Jeremy Balmy was sent on for his Town debut in the 76th minute and within 30 seconds delivered a perfect cross to the back post, where Ajose – on the stretch – guided the ball against a post.
Branco rose highest to nod a right-wing corner beyond Jones as the game headed into stoppage time, but Tosin Olufemi cleared off the line to ensure the visiting U’s stole all three points.