Shrewsbury fell to a 2-0 loss at Colchester.

A Will Goodwin strike and rocket from Arthur Read won it for Danny Cowley's side at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Those moments aside, there was little to separate the teams over the course of the 90 minutes.

Town consistently got into dangerous areas - particularly in the second half - only for that final bit of quality to allude them.

And that meant Goodwin's and Read's efforts were enough to ensure the points remained in Essex.

Team news:

Boss Cowan stuck with a 3-4-1-2 system for the trip to Essex with Matt Cox continuing in goal.

With Sam Stubbs missing out due to a minor knock, Luca Hoole, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels made up the back three.

Ismeal Kabia and Mal Benning got the nod at wing-back with Nick Freeman and Sam Clucas the midfield two.

Anthony Scully was deployed more advanced in the number 10 role with John Marquis partnerered by George Lloyd in attack.

Colchester lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Will Goodwin the central striker.

Kyreece Lisbie and Samson Tovide were out wide with Jack Payne in the 10 role.

Report: 

It was the hosts who made a flying start in front of their own supporters - with Danny's Cowley's men opening the scoring in just the fourth minute.

After Rob Hunt did well to keep the ball in at the byline, Tovide sent in a dangerous cross. And that was swept in from close range by Goodwin.

Falling behind early was a huge frustration, especially as the for next half-hour, there was nothing to seperate the teams.

For the hosts, Read saw an effort from 20 yards parried away by Cox.

While for Town, Benning and Taylor Perry - an early sub for the injured Clucas - both whipped in dangerous crosses that the hosts defended well.

In the 37th minute, though, the hosts doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion - with Read producing a rocket from 25 yards that flew into the to corner.

Town immediately went in search of a route back into the game.

Lloyd spun on the box before seeing a shot blocked. Perry fired wide from 20 yards and Benning saw a free-kick claimed by goalkeeper Matt Macey.

And that meant Town made their way off at the break trailing by two.

Cowan made a change at the break with Iwan Morgan replacing Scully.

Town created the first chance following the interval with Marquis glancing a Kabia cross wide.

Morgan then charged down the keeper and managed to block a clearance only to then see the ball ricochet wide.

Salop were doing everything to try and get back into the game with Kabia then sending in a dangerous cross which caused a huge scramble only for the hosts to survive.

Cowan made a double change just past the hour mark that saw Benning and Freeman replaced by debutant Kev Berkoe and Tom Sang respectively.

And Berkoe almost had an immediate impact - with the wing-back hitting a low effort from the edge of the box that was claimed by Macey.

From that point on Town put The U's under a lot of pressure.

But they couldn't find the final bit of quality needed to break down a resolute home defence.

Teams:

Colchester: Macey, Hunt, Tucker, Bishop (Barbrook 63), Tovide (Edwards 63), Payne, Lisbie (Flanagan 89), Read (Akachukwu 74), Goodwin (Williams 74), Araujo, Vincent-Young.

Subs not used: Smith, Back.

Shrewsbury: Cox, Hoole, Boyle, Ruffles, Kabia, Clucas (Perry 18), Freeman (Sang 63), Benning (Berkoe 63), Scully (Morgan 46), Marquis, Lloyd (McDermott 71).

Subs not used: Brook, Anderson.

Attendance: 4,932 (251 away).