Colchester United's nine-match unbeaten run in League Two was ended this afternoon after they were beaten 3-0 by in-form Exeter City, at St James Park.

Goals from Reuben Reid, David Wheeler and substitute Liam McAlinden condemned the U's to their first defeat since November 19, following a disappointing loss against the Grecians.

Colchester made an enforced change to their starting line-up, with Drey Wright recalled for the first time since December 31 for Owen Garvan, who picked up a knee injury in training the previous day.

Colchester made a bright start in the battle of two of League Two’s in-form teams, forcing a couple of early corners.

They had an early shout for a penalty in the fourth-minute after Wright tumbled under Jake Taylor’s challenge in the area but their appeals were waved away.

Colchester came close to taking the lead in the tenth minute when Brennan Dickenson's free-kick from the edge of the area was tipped over by Exeter keeper Christy Pym.

But Exeter, who had gone into the game eight games unbeaten, warmed to the task after that, on a chilly afternoon.

Former Colchester midfielder Lloyd James’ low 25-yard shot was easily gathered by U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker.

And James came closer to scoring soon after when his swerving long-range effort was well saved by Walker, before Jake Taylor followed up from an offside position.

Exeter made the breakthrough in the 20th minute.

After being picked out by Troy Brown, the skilful Ollie Watkins did superbly well to advance towards goal and draw in U’s defenders before an unmarked Reid found space to clinically drill a low cross-shot past Walker.

Buoyed by the goal, the Grecians looked like scoring again after that.

Brown’s downward far-post header from James’ corner flashed just wide, midway through the first half.

And less than two minutes later, Brown headed wide again at the far post from Craig Woodman’s corner from the other side.

Jake Taylor sent a 25-yard shot wide after picking Tom Lapslie’s pocket in midfield just before half-time, as the U’s went in at the break trailing.

Craig Slater's long-range strike flew straight at Pym in the opening stages of the second half, while Dickenson blasted wastefully over just before the hour when sent through by Slater's excellent defence-splitting pass as Colchester went on the hunt for an equaliser.

The U's continued to press and Chris Porter's close-range effort was deflected over for a corner following Dickenson's pass into the area, before the visitors made their first change of the afternoon, bringing Tarique Fosu on in a central position for Richard Brindley and moving Wright into a wide-right position.

But just when it looked like Colchester might be coming close to an equaliser, Exeter doubled their lead with 13 minutes remaining.

Slater was dispossessed in midfield and Watkins picked out Wheeler, who coolly slotted past Walker for 2-0.

And Colchester's misery was complete in the 89th minute when Liam McAlinden slotted home, after once again being picked out by the influential Watkins.