Report: U's Grind Out Fantastic Win

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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Writer: StevieG Col U 

Date:Saturday October 3 2009

Time: 8:43PM

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