Notts County boss Luke Williams on Colchester United

The Magpies remain top of the table despite losing a fantastic game 5-4, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Notts County had trailed from the tenth minute when goalkeeper Aidan Stone's poor clearance fell straight to Noah Chilvers, whose excellent first-time strike from 40 yards flew straight in.

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Sam Austin equalised but goals from Jayden Fevrier and Arthur Read put the U's 3-1 up, at the break.

Macauley Langstaff pulled another goal back after half-time but Cameron McGeehan made it 4-2 and although Jodi Jones reduced the deficit, Read scored again.

Langstaff netted his second of the game to ensure a nervy finish for the hosts, who were reduced to ten men after McGeehan's red card but Notts County were beaten.

Williams said: “The opposition were fantastic, a brilliant team.

“We didn’t deal well enough with the two strikers in the first half.

“But the game is very difficult, because we gave a goal away from a lack of concentration.

“Because of this, we find it more difficult to build up because understandably I think, the confidence is not the same when you make a mistake like that.

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"Without being able to get into a flow, it was more difficult for us today and the opposition are so brilliant on the counter attack.

“The game is different after that but they just caused us no end of trouble and this mistake changed the game completely.

“I think we caused them a lot of problems as well but it’s OK going toe to toe with a team but if you give them a goal start, it’s a different feeling from the sideline.

“When we thought we’d got ourselves back into the game we conceded more goals and it’s very, very difficult.

“I like the spirit we had but to concede so many goals is really worrying.

"I needed to change the shape of the team, because we were suffering more than we were inflicting them problems - it's a straight forward equation, in that way.

"We changed shape and I think it helped us more and we had a great start (to the second half) and looked like we were going to get back into the game but then we gave away a goal."

Williams was particularly complimentary of Colchester's front duo Joe Taylor and Samson Tovide, who both enjoyed impressive games despite not getting on the scoresheet.

"I hate the games when they go into basketball, because you can't control the game - it's very difficult," added Williams.

"The only reason it became basketball is because they're so good.

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"The front two in particular, they worked until they couldn't run anymore.

"They're so quick and bright and became basketball - we tried to avoid that but we couldn't and then we made a real go of it.

"We kept going to the box over and over again trying to get back into the game but we couldn't do it."