Injury-hit Colchester United slipped to their first home defeat in more than three months after losing 3-2 to Crawley Town tonight.

Jimmy Smith bagged a hat-trick for the Reds to inflict a disappointing loss on John McGreal's side in front of a crowd of 2,675, the U's lowest league home attendance of the season.

Colchester made four changes to their starting line-up, with Tarique Fosu handed in for his first start for more than four months in a central attacking position and Richard Brindley shaking off his calf injury to return at right wing-back.

Matt Briggs and Alex Wynter were also both given starts after impressing as substitutes in the U’s 2-1 win over Barnet, last weekend.

Craig Slater, who has been carrying a groin injury over recent weeks, was only deemed fit enough for a place on the bench and was among the substitutes along with Kane Vincent, while Lloyd Doyley and Frankie Kent both missed out through injuries picked up in the Barnet win.

Colchester made a positive start and almost went ahead in the fifth minute when Crawley goalkeeper Glenn Morris denied Denny Johnstone and then Kurtis Guthrie from close range in quick succession.

But the U’s kept probing and took an 18th minute lead.

After Fosu’s pass had unlocked the Crawley defence and set Brennan Dickenson away, the wing-back’s cross into the area was not cleared and the lurking Johnstone struck the ball past Morris for his first goal since August.

But Colchester’s lead lasted only five minutes.

Crawley skipper Jimmy Smith rose to powerfully head home Dean Cox’s corner from close range, to peg the U’s back.

Crawley grew in confidence after that and they went ahead for the first time in the contest, 11 minutes before half-time.

After being picked out by Kaby Djalo’s cross-field pass, Enzio Boldewijn laid the ball back to Smith who sent a superb first-time shot into the top corner past Walker leaving the U’s keeper no chance.

As a consequence, Colchester went in trailing at the break and Crawley started the second half brightly, pegging the home side back into their own half.

And the U's fell further behind seven minutes after the break when Smith collected possession from nearly 25 yards out and unleashed a long-range effort that crept past Walker and in.

Colchester sent on Rekeil Pyke and Charley Edge for their debuts as the clock ticked down along with Kane Vincent-Young, as they went in search of an equaliser.

It came in the third minute of stoppage time when Dickenson curled in a superb free-kick to give the U's hope.

But Crawley held out in the five remaining minutes of time added on, to claim victory.