Colchester United were beaten on their travels for the first time in League Two this afternoon after losing 3-1 in a fiesty encounter at Stevenage.

The U's had led through Sammie Szmodics' second-minute strike.

But former Colchester striker Kurtis Guthrie equalised for the home side, just before half-time.

And a Ben Kennedy penalty with eight minutes to go, followed by substitute Emmanuel Sonupe's strike two minutes later, condemened John McGreal's side to defeat at Broadhall Way.

Colchester head coach McGreal stuck with the same side that beat Yeovil Town, last Tuesday.

Frankie Kent shrugged off an ankle injury that caused him to miss the Yeovil win and was among the U’s substitutes.

Colchester made a dream start when they went ahead after 86 seconds.

Sammie Szmodics tapped in from three yards at the far post, after Ryan Jackson had crossed into the six-yard box.

The U’s were completely on top in the opening quarter of the contest and might easily have added to their total, in that period.

Szmodics’ goalbound effort well blocked by Scott Cuthbert after Luke Norris had done well and crossed into the area.

And leading scorer Norris twice went close in the space of four minutes soon after, curling a great effort just over from 20 yards after linking up well with Szmodics and then seeing a 25-yard free-kick flash just wide of the post.

But Stevenage warmed to the task late in the first half, with Kurtis Guthrie's deflected effort from just under 25 yards sailing just wide of the post and away for a corner.

And former U’s striker Guthrie got the hosts back on level terms four minutes before the break when he tapped home at the far post, after Cuthbert had headed on Joel Byrom’s corner.

Colchester went in at the break reeling from the goal and they almost fell behind in the opening moments of the second half.

U’s keeper Dillon Barnes made a great save to deny an acrobatic effort from Emmanuel Sonupe, who has just come on as a half-time substitute.

And Stevenage came agonisingly close to scoring again a few minutes later when Guthrie’s first-time effort came back off a post, following a free-kick into the area.

But Colchester were very much in the game and just before the hour mark, Stevenage keeper Seny Dieng pushed away Norris’s fierce effort as the contest hotted up.

However, Colchester fell behind for the first time in the match with eight minutes to go when Ben Kennedy slotted in from the spot, after Steve Seddon had been fouled by substitute Brennan Dickenson in the area.

And three minutes later, Sonupe made it 3-1 to Stevenage when he calmly lifted a shot past Barnes from Guthrie’s pass, to wrap up the home side's win.