Colchester's League One play-off ambitions were dented as Exeter held on for a valuable win at St James Park.
Stuart Fleetwood latched onto a long ball and raced clear to open the scoring in the first half.
Colchester came close when David Prutton hammered a free-kick against the bar from the corner of the area.
The visitors continued to press but then saw Ryan Harley seal the win from the spot late on after Steven Gillespie handled Fleetwood's shot.
Colchester United manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Essex:
"I am disappointed with that. We've done really well.
"We have done enough to create chances, we have had more closes and shots than we have had for a long time.
"It was an outstanding save by their keeper Paul Jones to keep out David Prutton. Goals change games."
Live text and stats
Friday, 2 April 2010
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Exeter
2-0
Colchester
FT
(HT 1-0)
Fleetwood 33
Harley (pen) 90
Exeter
27 Jones
02 Tully
03 Duffy
06 Taylor
15 Edwards (Fleetwood 27)
48 Friend
07 Harley
21 Dunne yellow card
22 Sercombe
12 Corr (Logan 67)
16 Stewart
Substitutes
01 Marriott,
11 Golbourne,
14 Cozic,
28 Burnell,
20 Logan,
45 Fleetwood,
51 Taylor
Colchester
01 Williams
04 Okuonghae
24 Queudrue
25 White
31 Ifil (Vincent 80)
08 O'Toole
10 Izzet yellow card
26 Prutton
09 Platt (Gillespie 74 yellow card)
16 I Henderson (Wordsworth 57)
20 Lisbie
Substitutes
12 Cousins,
21 Batth,
34 Bender,
14 Fox,
22 Wordsworth,
07 Vincent,
18 Gillespie
Ref: Phil GibbsAtt: 6,297
EXETER
COLCHESTER
Possession
Exeter58%
Colchester42%
Attempts on target
Exeter4
Colchester3
Attempts off target
Exeter3
Colchester3
Corners
Exeter4
Colchester9
Fouls
Exeter8
Colchester13
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:07 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+4:51 Stuart Fleetwood takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
90:00+2:59 Short corner taken by James Dunne from the right by-line, Ashley Vincent fouled by James Dunne, the ref awards a free kick. Ashley Vincent takes the free kick.
90:00+2:26 Short corner taken by James Dunne from the right by-line.
89:39 GOAL - Ryan Harley:Exeter 2 - 0 Colchester Ryan Harley scores a placed penalty. Exeter 2-0 Colchester.
88:58 Booking Booking for Steven Gillespie for unsporting behaviour.
88:44 Steven Gillespie handles the ball and concedes a .
87:20 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Anthony Wordsworth.
86:34 Marcus Stewart produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.
85:10 Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.
81:09 Foul by Magnus Okuonghae on Richard Logan, free kick awarded. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.
79:16 Substitution Ashley Vincent on for Philip Ifil.
76:46 John White gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stuart Fleetwood. Steve Tully restarts play with the free kick.
73:43 Substitution Clive Platt leaves the field to be replaced by Steven Gillespie.
72:49 David Prutton takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, comfortable save by Paul Jones.
71:15 Richard Logan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John White. Franck Queudrue takes the free kick.
70:56 Stuart Fleetwood takes a shot. Save made by Ben Williams.
69:44 The referee blows for offside against Anthony Wordsworth. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Jones.
69:04 Franck Queudrue restarts play with the free kick.
69:04 Booking James Dunne is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
68:59 Unfair challenge on Kemal Izzet by James Dunne results in a free kick.
66:55 Corner taken by Ryan Harley from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Kemal Izzet.
66:55 Substitution Richard Logan on for Barry Corr.
66:29 Foul by Clive Platt on George Friend, free kick awarded. Richard Duffy restarts play with the free kick.
63:02 Short corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth.
60:23 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kevin Lisbie. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Jones.
57:23 Steve Tully challenges David Prutton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David Prutton, Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot.
56:33 Substitution (Colchester) makes a substitution, with Anthony Wordsworth coming on for Ian Henderson.
52:35 George Friend concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Henderson. Franck Queudrue restarts play with the free kick.
51:28 David Prutton takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Matthew Taylor.
48:29 Corner taken by David Prutton from the right by-line, save by Paul Jones.
48:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Duffy on Kevin Lisbie. Philip Ifil takes the indirect free kick.
46:31 Ian Henderson produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:41 The referee calls an end to the first half.
43:51 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stuart Fleetwood by David Prutton. Free kick crossed by Ryan Harley, save by Ben Williams.
42:15 Richard Duffy restarts play with the free kick.
42:15 Booking The referee shows Kemal Izzet a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
41:59 Kemal Izzet challenges James Dunne unfairly and gives away a free kick.
40:35 Foul by Philip Ifil on Marcus Stewart, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by George Friend.
37:56 Franck Queudrue challenges Ryan Harley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Harley has an effort direct from the free kick.
36:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barry Corr by Ian Henderson. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Harley, Franck Queudrue makes a clearance.
32:03 The assist for the goal came from Marcus Stewart.
32:03 GOAL - Stuart Fleetwood:Exeter 1 - 0 Colchester Stuart Fleetwood finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Exeter 1-0 Colchester.
31:36 Unfair challenge on Magnus Okuonghae by James Dunne results in a free kick. Ben Williams takes the indirect free kick.
31:06 Barry Corr fouled by Ian Henderson, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Harley.
30:04 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stuart Fleetwood by Magnus Okuonghae. Richard Duffy takes the free kick.
26:52 Substitution Stuart Fleetwood is brought on as a substitute for Rob Edwards.
26:16 James Dunne takes a shot. Blocked by Franck Queudrue.
24:52 Ryan Harley takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Magnus Okuonghae.
22:43 Liam Sercombe challenges John White unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from David Prutton from the free kick,
20:13 Foul by Ian Henderson on Richard Duffy, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.
18:18 Corner taken by David Prutton from the left by-line, clearance by Rob Edwards.
17:36 Inswinging corner taken by David Prutton, Steve Tully manages to make a clearance.
17:11 David Prutton takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Steve Tully manages to make a clearance.
15:14 David Prutton takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.
13:59 Handball by Liam Sercombe. Ben Williams takes the free kick.
12:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by David Prutton on Richard Duffy. James Dunne takes the free kick.
10:55 Ian Henderson is caught offside. Paul Jones takes the indirect free kick.
8:50 David Prutton takes a outswinging corner to the near post.
8:32 Kemal Izzet takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.
5:02 The official flags Marcus Stewart offside. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.
4:16 Barry Corr has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
2:51 David Prutton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rob Edwards. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Oldham 2-3 Brentford
Bookmark with:
What are these?