Colchester win thanks to their power play
Orient 0 Colchester United 1 ORIENT missed the chance to move into the top half of the table as their four-game unbeaten home run came to a halt when Kayode Odejayi s 54th-minute header settled this dour encounter, WRITES TREVOR DAVIES. It was a day when
Orient 0 Colchester United 1
ORIENT missed the chance to move into the top half of the table as their four-game unbeaten home run came to a halt when Kayode Odejayi's 54th-minute header settled this dour encounter, WRITES TREVOR DAVIES.
It was a day when nothing went right for the home side.
The game was less than two minutes old when O's waited for an offside flag that never came and midfielder Luke Summerfield was forced to scramble the ball off the line.
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In the melee O's keeper Jamie Jones was knocked unconscious by his own defender Ben Chorley and the keeper was given a standing ovation as he was stretchered off and taken to hospital.
It meant an early introduction for Glenn Morris and O's struggled to come to terms with Colchester's bombardment.
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The powerful visitors, one of the more direct sides seen at the Matchroom this season, tested the home defence as O's struggled to get out of their half.
But with Tamika Mkandawire and Ben Chorley in excellent form at the heart of the home rearguard, Orient held firm and after Clive Platt headed wide and John-Joe O'Toole fired over, the home side managed to get a toe-hold in the game.
Indeed, they almost took a 28th-minute lead when Andros Townsend saw his shot beaten out by Ben Williams in the visiting goal and James Scowcroft just failed to slide home the rebound.
Former Dagger Magnus Okuonghae went close with headers from corners, as Colchester tried to make their aerial power count, while workaholic Scott McGleish went close at the other end.
After the break, Morris made a stunning save from O'Toole when he dived to his left and tipped an effort around the post. But on 54 minutes Odejayi made the breakthrough when he sent a header crashing into the net after O'Toole flicked on Anthony Wordsworth's corner.
After that, chances were a scarce commodity. McGleish fired wide when substitute Loick Pires was in space and Summerfield went close before Townsend had an excellent effort tipped over. But Colchester were just about worth their win.
