Sam Stringer reports from a vital win for Colchester…
Billed as a relegation six-pointer, Saturday’s League One fixture saw East London’s own Leyton Orient make the short trip down the A12 to Colchester, taking an impressive 1,777 fans with them.
Colchester went into the game with the unwelcome tag of having the worst home record in all of England’s top five divisions, leaving them deep in the relegation zone.
On the other side Orient were looking to build on a decent draw at Preston last week and finally get back on track, having gone from play-off finalists last season to hovering over the drop zone this one.
Both sides dipped into the transfer market in the previous week, with the O’s securing loan deals for defender Neal Eardley and winger Ryan Hedges – the pair would start the game.
U’s on other hand attempted to fill the void left by top scorer Freddie Sears with striker Chris Porter, whilst also acquiring full back Mathew Briggs and young striker Jack Marriott on loan deals.
The latter only made the bench but Tony Humes saw fit to throw both Porter and Briggs straight into the first team, whilst also giving a start and full debut to youngster Tom Lapslie.
An early first-half goal through winger Gavin Massey secured Colchester a deserved lead, with Sean Clohessy heavily involved and debutant Porter getting the all-important assist.
Orient upped their game after going behind, with chances from Hedges and ex-Colchester striker David Mooney both testing Sam Walker in goal but not providing any breakthrough.
The Essex boys withstood the pressure from Fabio Liverani’s side, making it to half-time in the lead for only the second time this season, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Before the vocal away support even had a chance to rouse their team on in the second half, however, Colchester had crucially doubled their lead and all but put Orient out of distance in the game.
David Fox’s pinpoint delivery from a corner set piece was met perfectly by the run of Kaspars Gorkss who glanced a header past Gary Woods, earning him a first goal for Colchester.
Orient did mount some resistance and sub Gian Plasmati thought he had started the comeback midway through the second half when he converted, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
A late red card threatened to jeopardise all of Colchester’s work with Elliott Hewitt the recipient as the defender’s heavy sliding tackle on Romain Vincelot was deemed to have been serious foul play.
Despite this setback the home side still managed to see out the remaining minutes outnumbered although Walker was called into action late on to deny substitute John Lundstram a goal.
The final result mirrored the reverse fixture exactly, in which Colchester also won by two goals to nil with ten men at Brisbane Road, in what was Tony Humes’ first ever managerial victory.
The three points also leapfrogged U’s over O’s in the League but due to other results left both sides still in the drop zone, with the victors gaining some vital momentum to build on.