JUBILANT COLCHESTER fans watched their side in first-half cruise control against Yeovil as two goals proved eventually enough to maintain the side`s unbeaten spell in this League One season.
A fast-paced start by the U`s, who were resorted to winning order in the league following last weekend`s 7-1 opener, brought goals from club midfielders David Fox and Ashley Vincent. United made all the early running, with six changes from the midweek starting XI taking to the field. The teamsheet read identically to last Saturday`s, save for Scott Vernon replacing the suspended Clive Platt.
Goalscorer Vincent, who assisted the first and scored the second, was later rewarded for his role in both goals as he finished the game in a free-standing attacker`s position. Vincent`s bravery after a strong overlap onto Simon Hackney`s ball, was indirectly rewarded, as in the mêlée Fox hit an outstanding edge-of-the-area volley to give Colchester the lead.
A lively-looking Colchester were up-and-running for the afternoon as Fox fired home first-time from just beyond the apex of the penalty box, capitalising on what little space he had found to the right of Vincent and Hackney. His goal had looked like a straight and true hit, but replays reveal it took a slight deflection.
Although United had looked promising with the initial high-tempo exchanges, it was Yeovil who created early danger through Gavin Tomlin. He beat Magnus Okuonghae for pace by did not trouble Williams, although the keeper needed two grasps at the ball to keep it out for sure.
Hackney and Vincent combined again, in a move also involving Kevin Lisbie who was deemed onside unlike on many previous occasions, to double their advantage with just less than twenty minutes gone. Vincent connected superbly with the header that had evaded two other Colchester men on its way into Alex McCarthy`s net.
As well as a keen contribution from Hackney and Vincent, Dean Hammond was again combining his on-the-ball skills with an ability to marshal the game from the middle of midfield. The U`s might have killed the encounter when Lisbie broke fee for a tetanising one-on-one, but he was unable to flick the goal goalbound after it ran out from underneath him.
Yeovil were limited to one other chance of note from close range, as Colchester dominated and look likeliest to score still more.
Half-time: Colchester 2 Yeovil 0
The visitors saw much more possession during the second period, but a combination of resilience and some further opportunist Colchester counter-attacks kept them at bay.
A wayward Kevin Lisbie header and another Vincent attempt represented the best results of United`s continued, if by now diminishing, dominance. Lambert`s second-half substitutions reflected this, as Kem Izzet was unorthodoxly deployed on the right-hand side of midfield, presumably to tuck-in as United began to hold out for a win.
Some inconsistent officiating lead to Yeovil`s goal, as they were awarded a direct free-kick, from which the Glovers` only major fitness doubt, Ryan Mason, duly converted to set up a tense finish to the game.
Classic delaying tactics at the top of the opposing half saw Colchester successfully elapse an elongated five minuet period of extra-time to keep all three of the season`s first home points on offer in Essex.
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Good to see the home form going good.