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Report: U’s Grind Out Fantastic Win

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A SOLATARY goal, in blustery October winds, kept Colchester United in touch with the top of League One, capping an impressive week of results in the process.

Kayode Odejayi`s 80th minute winner saw the U`s narrowly squeeze past fellow promotion-chasers Huddersfield Town, in a scrappy game at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Aidy Boothroyd`s side showed their determination and fight, following the midweek crushing of Charlton Athletic, to scrape a vital three points.

An unnamed starting XI took to the field, with makeshift winger Kevin Lisbie lining up despite suffering from an illness in the past couple of days.

The on-form, on-loan Odejayi had the games first chance but drove Clive Platt`s lay-off wide of the post.

The Terriers travelled South with a defiant defensive game plan, however, forward Theo Robinson did have a chance, only to be ruled offside.

U`s man John-Joe O`Toole, who netted his first goal of the season last weekend, was on the end of the game`s next chance, but fired well-wide of the target.

Defender Marc Tierney, along with the goal-shy Kem Izzet, both shoot over the crossbar, within a couple of minutes of one another.

Although neither side were producing any clear-cut chances, the U`s saw Lisbie go close with a neat volley, while Platt also nodded just wide.

Terriers` youngster Jordan Rhodes went close, as half-time drew close, with Tierney getting stuck in well to block his goal-bound effort.

HALF-TIME: Colchester 0-0 Huddersfield

As the second-period got underway, visiting full-back Joe Skarz slammed the ball towards goal, with the U`s getting the ball away safely, however.

The vicious weather was far from helping, in a dire game, with the ball being caught by the strong wind on a number of occasions.

After a well-worked dead-ball, U`s right-back John White saw his deep, curling cross closely evade the head of Odejayi.

As Huddersfield broke away on the counter-attack, down the right, O`Toole denied the on-rushing Anthony Kay with a tidy clearance.

The U`s went looking for a goal, bringing on striker Steven Gillespie, shortly before visiting defender Peter Clarke saw red for a nasty elbow on White. Not the best way for a former Southend United man to mark his return to Essex!

And following Clarke`s dismissal the Terriers looked shaky, with Lisbie bursting past his man to feed the ball across goal and find Odejayi, who tapped the ball into an empty net. The big-forward celebrated his third goal of the week, with the whole U`s team full of relief and joy, along with 4000+ noisy fans.

With the Terriers then striding forward in search of a late equaliser, gaps continued to form at the back, and midfielder Anthony Wordsworth went close, while sub Gillespie nervously lifted the ball over after being played in by Odejayi.

However, Huddersfield did have a late chance but Rhodes was denied well by Ben William, who had performed very well throughout.

And as Gillespie tried, and failed, to add to the goal, the U`s held on for a fantastic win!

So, three home games for Aidy, three wins and three clean sheets. Not bad, eh?

FULL-TIME: Colchester 1-0 Huddersfield

U’s: Williams, White, Okuonghae, Batth, Tierney, Wordsworth, Izzet, O’Toole, Lisbie (Ifil), Platt (Gillespie), Odejayi.

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7 comments

  • ultracritic says:

    Rubbish game with good result. Passing was terrible especially from O’Toole– did he complete a pass in the game?
    Seems to me that the tactics were wrong for the weather conditions. The ball was constantly booted high into the air (and I mean HIGH) and given away far too easily. We needed someone (Fox perhaps) to thread the ball through, on the ground, to the forwards. Most of our good attacks were instigated or involved Lisbie in some way. Anyway to play poorly and still win cannot be too bad. Last year we would have probably rolled over.

  • StevieG Col U says:

    Yep, is really pleasing to be able to win when you don’t play good. The hallmark of a good team! We certainly did hit it long, I was surprised not to see Fox come on early in the second-half, when it was 0-0. Someone just to knock it around and look for a clever pass, but ah well, at least we won!

  • Matt_Us says:

    Didn’t see the game but I like Foxy. Need him really – Izzet has been a good player for the U’s. So maybe O’T should be dropped next game. Like Ben Williams!

  • StevieG Col U says:

    Well, Fox had his chance when Izzet was out, never did a lot, and Izzet and John-Joe were good against Charlton. You cant be dropped for having an off-day, like many players did, in that wind!

  • ooohhJohnnieJackson says:

    Apparantly we tried to sign Owen Garvan on loan from Ipswich but he didn’t fancy the move

  • ColuNo1 says:

    Izzet was terrible in the charlton game, i understand he had been out for 3 games but for me he had a shocker. I dont understand why he doesnt try wordsworth in the middle and put hackney on??

  • colu_chip says:

    Totally agree the wind was a big factor in a game that both teams struggled with, but i do think for the first half hour it was just booting the ball high in the air, and hope for the best, was shocked to see us going back to that style, but thankfully we did start passing the ball around a bit more after 30-40 mins, thats what we need to do keep the ball on the ground and pass it around more, i think J J was just having an off day, I like Izzet but i think Foxy has a bit more to offer. But after all said and done a good win for us, here’s to the next one. Up the U’s

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