COLCHESTER United boss John Ward, clearly hurt by yesterday afternoon’s soul-destroying 6-1 home defeat, a club record, admitted that his side were “out-fought” and “out-desired” by impressive Stevenage.

COLCHESTER United boss John Ward, clearly hurt by yesterday afternoon’s soul-destroying 6-1 home defeat, admitted that his side were “out-fought” and “out-desired” by impressive Stevenage.

Just over a month after witnessing his side’s 5-1 capitulation, at the hands of MK Dons, so Ward had to endure another miserable afternoon on home turf.

“The best team has won the game,” confessed Ward.

“They have out-fought us and out-desired us, and we are very disappointed in the way in which we have gone about the game.

“I have to take my hat off to Stevenage. I think they put on a fantastic performance. They are a very strong and well-organised side, and they took their chances extremely well.

“They got six goals as their reward, so it’s a fantastic day for them, but equally it’s a disappointing day for us.

“At 2-1, we were on course to come back into the game, to try and get ourselves a positive result.

“It’s not so much conceding the third goal that worried me. It’s afterwards where I’ve seen one or two heads drop and shoulders droop.

“That’s the biggest disappointment for me, because that shouldn’t happen to us or to anyone.

“We have to deal with these disappointments. We are out on show to give Colchester people a better afternoon than what we have given them,” added Ward.