Andy Bond continued his electric start to life at Colchester United with a late winner to steal three points against Walsall yesterday.
The result saw the U’s keep up their impressive unbeaten league start to the season, with the victory lifting them to 5th place in League One.
John Ward kept faith with the same starting XI that played a week earlier – at home to Carlisle United.
Both the hosts and visiting U’s failed to shine at The Banks Stadium, with neither side dominating.
Although the U’s started brightly, Saddlers’ midfielder Matt Richards tested ‘keeper Mark Cousins earlier on with a speculative driven free-kick, before Jon Macken went close.
As the half progressed, forwards Ian Henderson and Anthony Wordsworth both went looking for the breakthrough but solid defending from the hosts kept the score goalless.
The second-half started similarly, with both sides failing to get a foot-hold in the game as Wordsworth saw a fierce free-kick hit the wall.
And a few moments later, the U’s nearly had the breakthrough from the most unlikely source with Kem Izzet firing narrowly over with a neatly taken effort.
The U’s were starting to have more chances following the introduction of striker Kayode Odejayi – and his cross-cum-shot somehow eluded David Mooney at the back post.
Down the other end, Darren Byfield hit Cousin’s right-hand post from a tight angle.
However, the U’s broke away down the right on 83 minutes through full-back Brian Wilson and his deep cross was met by Bond who sent a fine header beyond the Saddlers’ goalkeeper and in to the net.
In a nervy end to the game, Izzet’s mistake let in Byfield but he failed to take his chance as the U’s went home with all three points.
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