COLCHESTER United claimed their first win in five League Two matches after beating Forest Green Rovers 1-0 to end the visitors’ unbeaten league record.

Noah Chilvers’ header scored just after a minute proved the difference between the two sides, following a keenly-contested match at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Colchester defended well throughout to claim a hard-earned clean sheet and get back to winning ways immediately, following their 3-2 defeat at Carlisle United at the weekend.

Colchester boss Steve Ball made two changes to his starting line-up.

Luke Gambin and Miles Welch-Hayes were both recalled, with Luke Norris and Miquel Scarlett dropping to the bench.

Gambin started in a central role, with Poku on the left and Harriott on the right.

Had there been fans at the Community Stadium, some of them might not have been in their seats by the time Colchester went ahead.

The U’s needed just 69 seconds to take the lead through Chilvers, who headed in unmarked from Miles Welch-Hayes’ cross into the six-yard box.

There cannot have been too many goals scored earlier at the Community Stadium and it was a blistering start for the U's, a similarly rapid opening to their last home game against Oldham Athletic.

However, the visitors, who went into the game unbeaten and having created the most chances in League Two, came a whisker away from equalising after 13 minutes.

Odin Bailey's close-range header from Scott Wagstaff's cross came back off the crossbar, with Ebrima Adams driving a low shot just wide of the far post, a few seconds later.

The first half was an open affair but while there was plenty of attacking intent from both sides, neither keeper was seriously tested before half-time as the U’s went in at the break with a slender lead.

Forest Green enjoyed the better of the attacking play in the second half and came close to an equalizer just after the hour mark when Bailey's free-kick was deflected just past the post for a corner.

And the visitors came even close to scoring when Jamille Matt's close-range header from Josh March's cross was saved by U’s keeper Dean Gerken, before being cleared.

Former U’s loanee Aaron Collins scuffed a shot wide from close range as Forest Green pressed, prompting boss Ball to send on first Luke Norris and then Josh Bohui in a bid to secure a second goal and gain some much-needed breathing space.

Substitute Jake Young's cross-shot flew dangerously past the far post for Forest Green as the clock ticked down but one goal proved enough for a U’s victory.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gerken, Welch-Hayes, Eastman, Smith, Bramall, Chilvers, Pell, Gambin (sub Sowunmi, 84), Poku (sub Norris, 75), Harriott, Brown (sub Bohui, 77).

Subs (not used): Scarlett, Marshall-Miranda, Senior, George.

Forest Green Rovers: McGee, Bernard (sub March, 46), Stokes, Kitching, Winchester, Adams, Bailey, Whitehouse (sub Collins, 57), Wagstaff (sub Young, 73), Godwin-Malife, Matt.

Subs (not used): Thomas, Evans, McCoulsky, Richardson.

Referee: Carl Brook (Scotland).

Goals: Chilvers (2).

Bookings: Colchester: Chilvers (foul, 43), Eastman (foul, 67), Pell (foul, 81). Forest Green: Stokes (foul, 52), Winchester (unsporting behaviour, 90).

U’s man of the match: Harry Pell.