Pools once again lost out in unfortunate circumstances as a Jamie Cureton goal on the hour sealed all three points for Colchester United.

Martin Scott's team had been the dominant force throughout the game, with the majority of possession and it was just a cutting edge that was lacking.

The game burst into life as Pools pressed from the off with a clear determination to put Saturday's FA Cup defeat behind them.

Chances within the opening minute from Eifion Williams and Mark Tinkler, which were both blocked, were a sign of what was to come as Pools continued to search for a breakthrough.

Scott's men played some good pressure football in the opening exchanges and really took the game to the visitors, with midfield and attack impressing with their movement.

Aidan Davison in the visiting goal was called upon on numerous occasions, with Tinkler forcing him to block at the near post and then Thomas Butler really testing him with a fierce curling effort from the edge of the area.

Butler had looked lively on the left in the early exchanges but pulled up with a groin problem as he played the ball down the wing for Humphreys and was replaced by Michael Proctor.

The game settled down after the bright start but despite the visitors getting more into the game, Martin Scott's side never really looked in danger throughout the majority of the match.

The closest Colchester came to goal was when the lively Greg Halford saw his shot on goal deflect off Ritchie Humphreys, but Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was quick to react and tipped the ball over the bar with a superb reflex save.

As the first half came to a close, Pools continued to dominate and a teasing Humphreys' ball through the area was touched agonisingly wide of the far post by a sliding Eifion Williams in what was the closest effort of the opening period.

Scott's side maintained their momentum after the break and the impressive Dean McDonald almost broke the deadlock just after the re-start. The striker broke forward down the left and hit a shot across goal from a narrow angle which just edged past the far post.

McDonald went even closer minutes later when good play down the right saw Micky Barron link up well with Eifion Williams, with the latter playing the ball into the area for McDonald.

The Ipswich loan man turned his man on the right corner of the six-yard area to fire a shot at goal only to see his effort crash against the post and rebound back into play.

But with Pools doing all of the running and desperately searching for the opener, Colchester took full advantage of the break as they stole a goal on the hour mark.

Mark Yeates' cross into the area deflected wickedly off Micky Barron and, with the flight of the ball throwing Konstantopoulos off track, Jamie Cureton arrived on the end of the looping delivery to fire it past the keeper and into the back of the net.

Despite the set-back, Pools continued to press forward and McDonald, who could well have bagged a hat-trick this evening, saw another of his efforts scrape just past the post and out of play.

With fit-again skipper Barron showing some much-needed leadership skills on the field, Pools continued to push forward and McDonald saw another effort edge over the bar and Barron himself also set off on a mazy run only to be held up on the edge of the box and be denied a shooting opportunity.

As the game came to a close, Pools came desperately close to a deserved equaliser as Neill Collins flung himself on to the end of a Chris Llewellyn corner but, with the home fans certain the effort was goal-bound, the ball flew inches past the post and with it went Pools' final hopes of a point.

Att: 3, 375 (73 Colchester United)

Pools: Konstantopoulos, Barron (Daly, 86), Collins, Nelson, Humphreys, Butler (Proctor, 34), Sweeney, Tinkler (Clark, 74), E Williams, Llewellyn, McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Provett, D Williams.

Colchester United: Davison, Halford, Danns (Izzet 83), Brown, Watson, Iwelumo, Yeates (Duguid 77), White, Chilvers, Cureton (Garcia, 73), Stockley.

Subs Not Used: Cousins, Baldwin.