ON-THE-WHISTLE MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 2-3 Colchester United

Despite taking the lead through Kaiyne Woolery, Swindon fell to their fifth defeat on the bounce in all competitions.

Woolery opened the scoring of a previously-bland half when he lashed the ball home from close range following a Matt Taylor free-kick.

Colchester equalised with the last kick of the half though when centre-back Frankie Kent volleyed in off the far post in similar fashion after a Kyel Reid corner landed at him.

Mikael Mandron nodded Colchester into a 2-1 lead midway through the second half. 

Second-half sub Kellan Gordon levelled it up again 14 minutes before the end through when he rifled in after another Taylor set-piece, this time a corner, was not properly cleared.

Swindon were only level for two minutes though as Sammy Szmodics made it 3-2 in the 78th minute.

Neither side were particularly in control in the first half, although Swindon looked better than they usually do in the opening 45 at the County Ground.

Striker Woolery blocked a Kent clearance early on and was dragged down by the Colchester goalscorer when he was surging on goal, which landed Kent a rapid yellow card.

Taylor had a shot with the free-kick but his curled attempt was harmless and straight into the arms of ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Sam Walker. 

Paul Mullin, who was the number 10 in Swindon's 4-2-3-1 also had a go with a long-distance curling shot and it was a good one too, but drifted just over the bar. 

Colchester were not massively creative either but their best outlet was left winger Kyel Reid, whose best attempt was a shot from the edge of the box that was blasted well over.

Swindon then took the lead when Taylor's left-sided free-kick was pumped into the box and, after Colchester failed to clear, Woolery pinged in his first league goal since the opening home match of the season. 

It was the third in all competitions for Swindon's £350,000 summer signing. 

Keshi Anderson had Town's next opportunity, but he could only whack his volley into the seating of the Stratton Bank after a corner was headed in his direction.

Just as the board went up for one minute of added-on time and Swindon looked like they would go in at half-time 1-0 up, Kent struck for Colchester to puncture the good mood around SN1.

The second half started brighter for Swindon and Taylor tried his luck from around 25 yards, but his arrowed shot sailed past the far post and out for a goal kick.

However, Mandron, who scored in both legs of Swindon's FA Cup defeat to non-league Eastleigh last season, made it three in three against Town when he powered in a header from Reid's free-kick for 2-1, Colchester.

One of two half-time substitutes, Johnny Goddard had Town's first proper shot post-goal two, but he could only slice wide from the edge of the box with 20 minutes remaining. 

Reid, who had already been heavily involved in both goals, then came close with a shot from a tight angle, but that was only deflected behind for a corner, which Town cleared.

Gordon made it 2-2 in the 76th minute with an impressive drilled shot following a corner but Szmodics restored Colchester's lead in the blink of an eye when he turned in a ball by Drey Wright.

Swindon could not test Walker properly after going behind again, Taylor whipping a free-kick over the bar was the best they could manage after that.

Swindon Town: Vigouroux, Purkiss (Knoyle '45), Preston, Lancashire, Iandolo, Linganzi, McDermott (Gordon '67) Taylor, Mullin, Woolery, Anderson (Goddard '45)

Subs not used: Henry, Robertson, Brophy, Dunne

Colchester United: Walker, Vincent-Young, Eastman, Kent, Jackson, Reid (Murray '83), Lapslie, Comley Wright, Szmodics (Odelusi '89), Mandron

Subs not used: Gilmartin, Kpekawa, James, Slater, Hanlan

Man-of-the-Match: Ellis Iandolo

Attendance: 6,020

Referee: Dean Whitestone