COLCHESTER United were beaten 1-0 at home by Northampton Town, on Saturday afternoon.

Jon Guthrie's first-half strike proved the different between the two sides, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Colchester were below par in the first half and although they were improved after half-time, it was not enough to secure them a point.

Here, Gazette sports writer Jon Waldron rates the U's players' performances following their disappointing home defeat.

SHAMAL GEORGE 6

U's keeper initially made a good save to deny Guthrie before the Northampton defender followed up to score

LUKE CHAMBERS 6

Made an excellent goal-mouth clearance in first-half stoppage time against his old club to deny Etete

TOM EASTMAN 6

Long-serving defender plenty of the ball at the back and almost set up an equaliser for Nouble in the closing stages

TOMMY SMITH 6

U's skipper seemed to relish his battle with former U's loanee Kabamba and Spurs loanee Etete

RYAN CLAMPIN 6

Enjoyed a good battle with Hoskins; produced another energetic performance

CAMERON COXE 6

Got into some good positions on the right wing particularly in the first half before being replaced

COLE SKUSE 6

Tried his best to get Colchester moving and had more success in doing so in the second half

BRENDAN WIREDU 7

Came agonisingly close to scoring in the second half when he was denied by Roberts; another all-action display

ALAN JUDGE 6

Had plenty of the ball particularly in the second half but found the Northampton defence difficult to unlock

SYLVESTER JASPER 7

U's man of the match. Another eye-catching display by the Fulham loanee particularly in the first half

FRANK NOUBLE 6

Came agonisingly close to scoring a last-gasp equaliser from Eastman's delivery in the closing stages

SUBSTITUTES

LUKE HANNANT (for Coxe, 58) 7

Slotted in well at right wing-back; added some extra to the U's attack as they chased an equaliser

FREDDIE SEARS (for Wiredu, 58) 7

Looked lively after coming on but will be disappointed he did not equalise from a one-on-one chance

NOAH CHILVERS (for Jasper, 80)

Subs (not used): Tchamadeu, Welch-Hayes, Kennedy, Turner.