Ben Smith reports as Colchester secure their divisional status…
“We have to believe we can win it,” was manager Tony Humes’ message before Colchester United’s season-defining clash with Preston North End on Sunday.
And it was their belief, along with admirable determination, attitude, and eventual quality that helped them over the line against the Lilywhites at the Colchester Community Stadium, and preserved their League One status.
Even when striker Chris Porter blazed his penalty a yard over the crossbar, they still believed. Even when fellow strugglers Leyton Orient, Crawley Town and Notts County were all in winning positions, they still believed. Even when faced with a second half onslaught from Preston, who needed a win to secure automatic promotion, they still believed.
The visitors hadn’t lost since Manchester United came from behind to beat them at Deepdale. They had Joe Garner, who has netted 26 goals in all competitions this season, and Daniel Johnson, whose arrival from Aston Villa in January has proved a masterstroke by Simon Grayson.
But Colchester had George Moncur, the midfielder who initially joined on loan from West Ham United last summer but made the move permanent in November. And it was he who struck late on to give the U’s a 1-0 win that was enough to remain in the third tier of English football for another season.
Colchester had been in the relegation zone since February, and it appeared as though they were destined to stay there when they were thumped 6-0 by Chesterfield less than three weeks ago, leaving them second-bottom of League One with an unhealthy goal difference and three points adrift of safety with just four games to play.
But two draws at home and a dramatic win at Fleetwood set them up for a final day survival mission that they completed superbly.
Both sides were cautious during the first half, neither wanting to lose ground in their respective quests.
Colchester spurned the only real chance to break the deadlock during the first half, towards the end of the period. Preston goalkeeper Sam Johnstone needlessly came off his line to try and meet Jacob Murphy on the left flank, and the U’s winger just had to loft it over the stranded Manchester United loanee, but his chip drifted wide much to the Lilywhites’ relief.
With Milton Keynes Dons 4-0 up against Yeovil Town, Preston had no choice but to go for broke. Colchester, too, were forced into action, as a point was never going to be enough.
As soon as the second period began, both teams started to show more intent. In-form Preston midfielder Johnson fed Jermaine Beckford who seemingly had time to open his body up and find the far corner, but he dwelled on it too long and allowed the U’s defence to recover.
Colchester’s Tom Eastman then headed narrowly over from David Fox’s delivery, and Paul Gallagher shanked one far from handsomely over the top for Preston soon afterward.
Then came the moment that the U’s might have rued. Porter dinked the ball into the path of Moncur, and Johnstone was again quick off his line and caught the U’s midfielder, leaving referee Keith Stroud with no choice but to point to the spot.
Porter, having played a part in the earning of the penalty, stepped up to take it, but fired it hideously over the bar.
The former Sheffield United striker was in a good position to redeem himself a quarter of an hour later, but Murphy took too long when he could have played it into his path, and Johnstone blocked his cross-cum-shot with his legs.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, a great piece of vision from Johnson looked to have opened the door for the Lilywhites. His pinpoint cross landed perfectly on Garner’s head, but the usually lethal striker missed the target from six yards out.
The goal that sealed safety for the U’s came eight minutes from time. Porter, who maintained his focus despite his penalty miss, controlled a lofted ball into the area with his chest, and teed up Moncur, who sent his side-footed effort low to Johnstone’s right and into the net.
Grayson threw on Kevin Davies and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake late on, but a chance fell to neither.
Instead it was Colchester for whom attack was the best form of defence, and Sammie Szmodics almost doubled the lead only to be denied by a smart Johnstone save.
Delighted, and no doubt relieved as a result of the day’s events, U’s boss Humes was full of praise for his side’s efforts, and told BBC Essex: “Credit to the players, they were brilliant against a really good team and it’s just amazing. We just kept going and going, stuck to what we believed in and ultimately got the reward.
“I was surprised when the referee gave the penalty but the miss didn’t prove important in the end. George Moncur has lots of quality and has that ability to stroke the ball into the net.
“We didn’t get any notice of what was going on elsewhere until we scored and these players will only grow from this.”
Leyton Orient, Crawley and Notts County all let their leads slip late on, and will join already-relegated Yeovil Town in League Two next season.