Colchester United's League Two play-off hopes were dealt a blow this afternoon after they were beaten 3-1 at Notts County.

Shola Ameobi's brace and Haydn Hollis's opener gave the Magpies a deserved victory, despite Chris Porter's fine first-half strike in front of more than 400 Colchester fans who had made the trip to Meadow Lane.

It extended Colchester's winless away run to eight games, as they fell to a disappointing defeat which leaves them five points off the top seven.

Colchester head coach John McGreal kept an unchanged team, following his side's 2-1 win over Luton Town last weekend.

Cameron James was passed fit having been doubtful with a hamstring problem that forced him off in the second half of their victory over the Hatters.

McGreal also stuck with the same seven substitutes that were on the bench against Luton, to take on the Magpies.

Notts County, looking for their eighth unbeaten home game under Kevin Nolan, made a bright start and were the better team in the opening stages.

Jon Stead’s sixth-minute acrobatic effort inside the six-yard box bounced just wide after Elliott Hewitt’s long throw had been helped on.

And Colchester fell behind in the eighth minute when defender Hollis headed into the net from close range, after both Jon Stead and Ameobi had gone close.

Jorge Grant’s acrobatic effort from 14 yards flew straight into U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker’s arms after Carl Dickinson’s ball into the danger area, as the hosts went in search of a second.

But Colchester were back on level terms in spectacular fashion, in the 21st minute.

Captain Porter curled a fabulous shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Adam Collin after Rekeil Pyke had knocked down into his path from a throw.

It was Colchester’s first meaningful shot on goal but they failed to really build on it and the home side continued to look dangerous.

Jorge Grant’s right-foot snap-shot in the area flashed just wide of the far post on the half hour after Ameobi had headed into his path.

And the U’s fell behind for a second time in the match ten minutes before the break.

After Walker, making his 150th league appearance for Colchester, had denied Grant and Cameron James had blocked Hewitt’s fierce strike, Ameobi lashed a fine shot home from the edge of the area to make it 2-1.

Only a fine save by Walker to tip Stead’s low effort around the post for a corner prevented Colchester from going further behind.

And although Porter’s weak downward header from three yards went straight at Collin in stoppage-time after Brindley’s deep cross into the area, the U’s went in at the break trailing.

Colchester made a change at half-time, sending on Matt Briggs for James who had taken a whack in the face in the lead-up to the Magpies’ second goal.

Stead missed a great chance to make it 3-1 just after the break, scuffing wide from four yards after Matt Tootle’s fine run and pass into his path.

Before long, Colchester had switched their formation to 4-4-1-1 but the hosts continued to be the better side.

And the Magpies made it 3-1 with 17 minutes remaining through Ameobi, who rose highest to score his second of the game following Jorge Grant's free-kick into the area.

Colchester responded by making a double change, sending Tarique Fosu and Macauley Bonne on for Pyke and Tom Lapslie.

But it made little difference, as Colchester's away-day blues in 2017 continued.