BEN Garner suffered defeat in his first game as Colchester United head coach after they were beaten 1-0 at home by promotion-chasing Stockport County this afternoon.

Kyle Wootton's first-half header proved the difference between the two sides at the JobServe Community Stadium, as the U's suffered a fourth successive defeat in League Two.

Colchester have now gone eight and a half hours without scoring a goal, as they struggled to find a way past a well-drilled Stockport side.

Garner made two changes to the Colchester line-up to the team that had started at Bradford City, seven days earlier.

Defender Luke Chambers returned after recovering from an ankle injury, while playmaker Alex Newby was recalled for his first start since December 10.

Will Greenidge dropped to the bench, while Arthur Read missed out.

Garner said prior to the match that he wanted his U’s side to start quickly and go out on the attack and that is exactly what they did.

Colchester had a penalty shout after just ten seconds when Junior Tchamadeu went down under a challenge in the box but referee Declan Bourne waved away the claims.

But Stockport almost took a ninth-minute lead when Kieran O’Hara pulled off a good save at point-blank range to deny Will Collar, after Chris Hussey’s free-kick had not been properly cleared by the hosts.

It was an open contest with little in the way of goalmouth action but Colchester did go close just after the half hour when Ossama Ashley's deflected effort looped over the bar for a corner.

And at the other end, Hussey's spectacular first-time effort flashed across the face of goal and wide of the far post for Stockport, for whom Kyle Wootton just failed to finish from close range after Will Collar had latched onto Ryan Croasdale’s pass in the area.

Stockport looked the more threatening and Colchester fell behind in the 37th minute from another set piece.

Wootton headed in from close range, after substitute Ryan Johnson had headed Hussey’s corner back across goal at the far post.

Stockport threatened to score again before half-time and almost did in first-half stoppage-time when Wootton latched onto Paddy Madden's fine through ball and advanced towards goal before sending in a low shot that O’Hara turned away for a corner, at his near post.

Colchester went in trailing at the break and it was a similar story at the start of the second half.

Stockport came agonisingly close to doubling their lead just after half-time when Antoni Sarcevic’s brilliant free-kick clattered the upright before coming back into play and eventually being cleared.

There was a stop-start feel to the second half but Colchester came close to equalising just after the hour when Connor Wood fired a first-time effort inches wide, after Junior Tchamadeu had done brilliantly to race down the right and pick him out in the area.

The U's penalty appeals were rejected when Chilvers' shot appeared to hit a hand and the hosts had another spot-kick shout rejected for handball, late on but Stockport claimed victory.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: O’Hara, Chambers, Kelleher, Hall, Tchamadeu, Wood (sub Fevrier, 70), Ashley (sub Huws, 76), Newby (sub Sears, 76), Chilvers, Jay (sub Akinde, 82), Hopper.

Subs (not used): Greenidge, Miranda, Smith.

Stockport County: Hinchcliffe, Knoyle, Byrne, Horsfall (sub Johnson, 26), Croasdale, Wootton, Hippolyte, Hussey, Collar (sub Camps, 84), Sarcevic (sub Wright, 67), Madden (sub Olaofe, 67).

Subs (not used): Jaros, Stretton, Rydel.

Referee: Declan Bourne.

Bookings: Colchester: Kelleher (foul, 46), Huws (foul, 78). Stockport: Olaofe (foul, 87), Johnson (foul, 89).

Goals: Stockport: Wootton (37).

Attendance: 3,530 (473 Stockport fans).