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U’s 5-0 Carlisle – Report

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Colchester United finally broke their home duck with a 5-0 win over Carlisle United, on Saturday afternoon.

The U`s, previously without a win at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, comfortably dismissed their out-of-form Cumbrian opponents.

An early goal from David Perkins and a Mark Yeates brace put the U`s firmly in control at half-time, before Dean Hammond and Akanni-Sunday Wasiu added late goals.

Steven Gillespie replaced Wasiu in the starting XI, from Tuesday night`s 2-1 defeat to Millwall, and Chris Coyne came in for the injured Paul Reid, as Paul Lambert looked for his opening home victory.

The visitors, with no win in their last eight games, boasted ten goal man Danny Graham in the team, along with Premier League loan stars, Ben Alnwick and Graham Kavanagh.

The U`s were on the front foot from the off and took the lead within three minutes. Yeates` mazy run down the right-hand side caused havoc in the Carlisle defence and the in-form Perkins fired in from close range. The ex-Rochdale midfield man will have been glad to net his first goal at the WHCS, with his previous three goals coming away from home.

U`s centre-back Pat Baldwin deflected Simon Hackney`s cross to safety, as the Cumbrians looked to equalise quickly.

Down the other end, Baldwin again was in the thick of the action, as he came close to connecting with a Yeates corner.

The home side doubled their advantage, with fourteen minutes gone; as a well crafted move ended in Yeates controlling the ball 20 yards out. The Irishman, with time and space, arrowed a low effort past a wrong-footed Alnwick.

U`s record-signing, striker Gillespie, continued his injury-hit start to life in North Essex, as he was forced to withdraw, due to injury, following the second goal. Nigerian front-man Wasiu took his place up front with Clive Platt.

A trade-mark Yeates dead-ball tested Alnwick, while Coyne blocked a Graham effort, at the other end.

Early U`s substitute Wasiu did well to hold off the Cumbrians’ challenges, just outside the area, but failed to test the away goalkeeper.

Yeates, eager to add to his goal tally, drove a low shot at Alnwick and the Tottenham Hotspur loanee spilled his effort, but caught it at the second attempt.

Yeates this time, however, did add to the U`s lead, pouncing on a defensive mix-up, before slotting under the onrushing Alnwick, with thirty minutes on the clock. The tricky winger is currently the U`s top-scorer so far this campaign, after an impressive start to the season.

Despite the Cumbrians pressing for a goal, late in the first-half, the U`s went into the break 3-0.

In the only change at half-time, Jeff Smith replaced Luke Joyce for the away side.

U`s full-back John White laid the ball off to Yeates, and his clever cross was narrowly missed by Wasiu, early in the second period.

Home ‘keeper Dean Gerken collected well under pressure from Graham, as Carlisle pressed.

Wasiu`s deflected effort subsequently set up strike partner Platt, but the big target man lifted the ball over, when he should have scored.

Just past the hour mark, veteran midfielder Kavanagh saw a dangerous free kick clawed away magnificently by Gerken, as the home side preserved their clean sheet.

U`s striker Platt, set up by Coyne, saw a headed effort cleared off the line, as the visitors failed to clear a corner.

Shortly later, unorthodox full-back Johnnie Jackson broke clear down the left-hand side, only for Wasiu to take over and mis-hit his shot. Wasiu, one again threatened, curling a shot over, after turning inside the penalty area.

Two goal hero Yeates and striker Platt, made way for Scott Vernon and Anthony Wordsworth, with ten minutes left.

Vernon it was, with a minute of normal time remaining, did well to beat his man before laying the ball off to captain Dean Hammond. The ex-Brighton man crashed a clever shot, into the net, for his first goal in U`s colours.

A minute later, Wasiu collected the ball just inside the area and skilfully beat his man, creating space, to fire a low effort past Alnwick, to add to the rout.

The U`s dominated throughout and thoroughly deserved their victory, in a win which could kick-start their season.

U`s: Gerken, White, Coyne, Baldwin, Jackson, Yeates (Wordsworth 83), Izzet, Hammond, Perkins, Gillespie (Wasiu 16), Platt (Vernon 80).

Subs Not Used: Cousins, Heath.

Steven Green at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

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8 comments

  • ooohhJohnnieJackson says:

    Looked so much more solid at the back with Coyne and Baldwin and Hammond ran the midfield. Platt won every 50/50 ball and all his performance lacked was a goal. Plenty of fight and passion and a performance to build on.

  • ooohhJohnnieJackson says:

    Worrying to see Gilly limp off again so soon. Looks like he’s turning into our very own Darren ‘sick note’ Anderton!

  • Sindbad says:

    I’ll bet nobody won the 2000-1 William Hill odds for that score line. But well done, that lays a ghost to rest! A few 1 nils would now be more sustainable though.

  • StevieG Col U says:

    Yeah, was a great game, a great performance and a great result! Agree, that Gilly is getting a bit worrying.

  • lincolnblue says:

    what a way to break you home duck….well done

  • Matt_Us says:

    Can’t say I expecting it, but it was a fantastic game!

  • Boxer says:

    Cracking result, well done! They are having a howler at the moment!

  • StevieG Col U says:

    Yeah, great result, cheers guys.

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