A long trek to Essex proved fruitless for Holbeach United.
The Tigers went into their Thurlow Nunn League Division One North match at Stanway Pegasus with a solid record of only one defeat in 11 games.
However, that became two in 12 after the promotion-chasing hosts chalked up a 3-1 success.
After a 15-minute delay due to a change of referee, the Colchester side went ahead after 26 minutes with the only goal of the first half.
They doubled that advantage on the hour-mark, albeit after a lengthy delay for treatment to their injured goalkeeper.
Holbeach were left appealing in vain for a foul in the lead up to Stanway’s third goal seven minutes later and had only a 77th-minute strike from Harvey Thorne to show for their efforts.
Tigers (at Stanway): Simpson, Greenacre, Oldham, Roberts (Lee), Ling, Carter, Kacirek, Compton, Thorne, Wright, Cook. Subs: Keeble, Ibeneme, Williams.
Attendance: 75.
