Colchester United strengthened their League Two play-off push with a deserved 2-1 win at Newport County, as Harry Anderson's long range strike and Jack Payne's 16th league goal of the season sealed victory to deepen the hosts' relegation worries.

Newport came into the game buoyed by seven points from their last four league matches and a dramatic late comeback against Tranmere in midweek.

But after Barrow's draw at Cheltenham on Friday, they dropped back into the bottom two and Christian Fuchs' side ended the afternoon still stuck in the relegation zone.

The match was halted after lively forward Micah Mbick, who had already headed two chances off target, was carried off on a stretcher following a challenge from Cameron Evans with referee Steven Copeland waving play on.

Mbick's replacement, chief creator Jack Payne, immediately added spark to the visitors' attack.

Kyreece Lisbie proved to be a continuous threat as he drew another save from Wright, while Newport, who had hit three at home on Tuesday, offered little in response.

Their only effort of note before the break came when Ryan Delaney headed tamely at Matt Macey.

And just before the hour mark Newport's resolute defence was broken as Anderson won possession, contentiously in the eyes of home fans, and drove a precise strike into the bottom corner.

Colchester doubled their lead soon after as County conceded their 63rd goal of the league campaign.

Lisbie's cross found Samson Tovide, whose effort was parried by Wright straight into the path of Payne, leaving the substitute to nod into an empty net.

The visitors almost added a third through Kane Vincent-Young, while Newport's flurry of late chances included substitute Nathaniel Opoku's header straight at Macey and Kamwa's fizzing effort failed to halve the deficit.

Newport did grab a late consolation as Lee Jenkins' diving header found the corner from Matt Smith's cross, but it was too little too late as they remain inside the relegation zone on goal difference, though Barrow have two matches in hand.

Defeat for Newport was their 12th in the league at Rodney Parade this season and keeps them firmly in relegation danger as they now prepare to face Barnet on 14 March.

Colchester, meanwhile, earned just their second win in six league matches and moved within four points of the play-offs. They will hope to now build momentum when they host one of the Exiles' relegation rivals in Crawley next.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley: "First half I thought we were in total control. We looked at a team that really stamped our foot in the game. So we're proud of the way the boys kept going because obviously we lose Micah.

"He then comes off, Jack Payne comes on, the game plan changes and the boys just reverted straight away. We're lucky because we lost a brilliant player, but we were able to bring a brilliant player on in Jack."

Newport boss Christian Fuchs: "The assessment is that the first 30 minutes were definitely not enough. Not a team that showed in the last couple of weeks... not necessarily in terms of how the set-up was, but just too little energy, didn't go after them.

"Well, maybe a little bit scared, I don't know, I don't know what happened there. It was definitely not enough and then you're on the back foot right away. Meanwhile in the second [half] I thought we got back into the game right away and then it's one of those those games where certain moments or certain decisions are not going your way."