Match Report by Dave Burch.
NPower League 1 Attendance: 13,650
Colchester travelled to London for the third and final time this season as they visited Charlton Athletic at the Valley. The U’s have enjoyed their trips to the capital this season by stealing a point at Brentford and defeating Leyton Orient.
I really did not expect anything from the Addicks though. They had been undefeated at home all season prior to the start of game and have been nothing short of imperious this season and deservedly top the league. The Addicks are the most impressive side I have seen at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and I was really hoping for a point at best.
The Valley has been slightly unhappy hunting ground for the U’s in the last two seasons, with the U’s dominating proceedings two years ago and being sucker punched near the end and then last season we were cruelly denied by the infamous phantom goal. Should that have been a Premier League game, people would still be talking about it, but it quickly fell to the wayside because it was just little old Colchester. That decision by Darren Sheldrake completely ruined our season, so a little bit of revenge would be nice!
I am not the biggest fan of these Tuesday night away games in London. Our away followings have been rather low this season (probably not helped by our rubbish form last year) and with a large ticket price at the Valley and an away trip to rivals Wycombe coming on Saturday, I could see many fans staying at home.
Line Ups
Charlton:
Hamer
Solly Taylor Morrison Wiggins
Green Hollands Stephens Jackson
Wright-Phillips Kermorgant
Subs: Sullivan, Cort, Russell, Haynes, Clarke.
Colchester:
Williams
Wilson White Okuonghae Eastman
Henderson Izzet Rowlands Worsdworth
Gillespie Odejayi
Subs: Rose, Heath, Duguid, Sears, Bond.
First Half
Colchester remained unchanged from the side that beat Preston North End on Saturday, with John Ward keeping grace with the 4-4-2 formation that was used for the first time this season against the Lilywhites.
The home side looked to attack the U’s from the off and had an early chance to test the U’s from a set piece after a foul by Magnus Okuonghae on Bradley Wright-Phillips. Martin Rowlands was on hand to clear the danger as the U’s looked to settle into the game.
Anthony Wordsworth slammed the U's ahead with a stunning goal. © greenun24.co.uk
Just minutes later, Colchester took a shock lead through leading scorer Anthony Wordsworth. The young midfielder picked up the ball from Kayode Odejayi and was allowed to stride forward unchallenged.With no other options available to him, Wordsworth unleashed a shot of the highest calibre that fizzed straight past Ben Hamer in the goal and into the top corner. It was a great moment for Wordsworth, scoring against the side that released him as a teenager.
Colchester continued to press the home side and a Martin Rowlands corner created further panic as Anthony Wordsworth headed back across goal and a scramble ensued, with the Addicks surviving to clear their lines.
Charlton started to find their feet and were using their width to pull Colchester all over the place. Danny Green was given time and space to cut in from the right-wing and hit an excellent swerving shot that forced Ben Williams into a save, with the U’s custodian beating the ball away.
The U’s were let off just moments later as they were effectively cut apart by some excellent build up play and former U’s man Johnnie Jackson found himself in acres of space on the left, but his powerful effort was always rising and skimmed off the top of the cross-bar.
Colchester were being forced deeper and deeper into their own half as the Addicks came forward time after time, but a stubborn U’s side were holding firm against a number of corners and crosses into the box. John Ward made a tactical change after about 20 minutes, with Henderson and Wordsworth sitting much deeper to protect the U’s full backs against the rampaging full backs in Rhoys Wiggins and Chris Solly.
Anthony Wordsworth went for the hollywood goal on the half hour mark as the 11-goal man shot from 50 yards out in an audacious attempt to catch Hamer off his line. His effort did not have the power however and made for a comfortable save.
Bradley Wright-Phillips was causing a nuisance for the U’s back line and the forward was at the heart of the action towards the end of the first half. His first chance came after Hamer’s long clearance allowed Wiggins to run down the left-wing and his centred ball was hit by Wright-Phillips on the turn, but he was unable to get his shot on target and the chance went begging. Wright-Philips had another chance moments later as he received the ball in the box after Danny Hollands headed pass across goal, but once again he was wasteful in front of goal and again put the ball wide.
Colchester went into the break ahead but surviving by the skin of their teeth after heavy pressure by the home side.
Second Half
The Addicks came racing out of the starting blocks after the interval and almost immediately equalised as Yann Kermorgant got his shot away, but a deflection off Martin Rowlands saw the ball spin just past the post.
Charlton continued to crank up the pressure and Bradley Wright-Phillips was next to go close as he found space to hit a low shot that forced Williams into a save.
Johnnie Jackson had a great chance to equal things up just moments later as the midfielder rose above everyone to get his head onto a ball into the box from Solly. He was unable to get any power behind his header and Williams was well placed to make an easy save.
Colchester found a little bit of rhythm after a long spell of Charlton possession with Kayode Odejayi making a forceful run forward and just put a little too much on his through pass that evaded the reach of Steven Gillespie.
Colchester were throwing everything at the ball to keep it out of the net and were given a let off after Kermorgant turned the ball into the net. The assistant referee on the far side had already raised his flag after the ball had already gone out of play, much to the relief of the travelling U’s following.
The U’s were struggling to get their foot on the ball and forced to go long on most occasions, but a rare U’s attack saw Gillespie put through on goal after clever play by Wordsworth, but the angle was always against the U’s striker and he could only hit the ball into Hamer’s midriff.
Steven Gillespie charged down Ben Hamer for the second. © cu-fc.com
The Addicks continued to toil in the forward line and were left stunned in the 73rd minute as Steven Gillespie chased down Ben Hamer as he dawdled on the ball and was able to block his attempted ball forward. The ball looped up into the air and bounced into the back of the net to give the U’s an unlikely second goal.
Danny Haynes was introduced for the ineffective Danny Green a minute later, the former Ipswich man having a decent scoring record against the U’s. Colchester made a change of their own as Andy Bond came on to replace Martin Rowlands in the centre of the park.
Former Addick Kemal Izzet, on his 401st U’s appearance was twice the hero for the U’s putting his body on the line to block a Dale Stephens shot and then calmly heading over his own bar during a goal mouth scramble.
Both Haynes and Stephens had late shots to try and reduce the deficit, but they were unable to hit the target.
The U’s held firm through four minutes of injury time to pick up their second consecutive victory and clean sheet to take home the points back to Essex.
Match Facts
|
|
Charlton |
Colchester |
|
Goals: |
0 |
2 |
|
Possession: |
59% |
41% |
|
Shots On Target: |
10 |
4 |
|
Shots off Target: |
6 |
1 |
|
Corners: |
11 |
2 |
|
Fouls: |
10 |
13 |
|
Yellow Cards: |
1 |
3 |
|
Red Cards: |
0 |
0 |
|
Scorers: |
N/A |
Wordsworth (4), Gillespie (72) |
Summary
Ward was as elated as the fans at the final whistle. © essexcountystandard.co.uk
I was absolutely elated at the final whistle. It was a real shock result and not one I was expecting at all. I go to every game in hope rather than expectation. I am finding it hard to describe the emotion you go through when little unfashionable Colchester cause a bit of an upset. It made me proud to be a Colchester fan to see the players, fans and manager all together at the end. It finally feels like the togetherness that has been missing is coming back. The joy on John Ward’s face and his fist pumping showed me that he wants to win just as much as the fans do. There was clear passion from absolutely everybody involved with Colchester United last night.
This was a classic smash and grab, make no bones about it. Colchester’s back line stood up to everything Charlton could throw at it.
It was one of those nights for the Addicks, they had players slipping over at vital times and it just did not work for them in the final third, although a lot of credit needs to go to Tom Eastman and Magnus Okuonghae who both defended manfully.
Chris Solly was Charlton's biggest threat. © skysports.com
For me it is obvious why Charlton are top of the league. They played some really nice football and this was really a minor blip in what will be a successful season for the Addicks. I really like the way that Charlton play football. They have two really impressive full backs in Wiggins and Solly, that are good on the ball and blessed with plenty of pace. I was really worried about those two getting forward as they were causing quite a bit of panic. The Charlton wide men (Green and Jackson) were kept at bay well by White and Wilson, but no one was picking up the full backs.
Charlton’s team in general are blessed with some real quality, but on the night, they were just unable to find a way past the resolute U’s, who parked the bus pretty effectively.
Lots of credit has to go to Ward. He made some vital tactical switches during the game, which stopped the threat of the full backs and more often than not, forced the home side to go long, where Kermorgant more than met his match against Okuonghae.
Anthony Wordsworth’s goal was a really excellent strike. He has that ability in his locker and it was a great moment when the ball hit the net. When you see opposition fans applauding a goal from the other team, you just know it is a good hit! It was a particularly nice moment for Wordsworth who was released as a 15-year-old by the Addicks.
Colchester did everything they had to. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Charlton played a very high tempo game and just got in the faces of the U’s to stop them in their tracks. Colchester worked extremely hard to break down Charlton whenever they could with Kemal Izzet and Martin Rowlands being chief destroyers. I felt Charlton just lacked that little bit of spark on the night, because on another day it could have been an absolute battering.
You have to praise the fight of the U’s who held on firm and Steven Gillespie’s fluked goal put to bed last season’s horror decision by Darren Sheldrake. If karma exists, it was well and truly in force last night as the god’s looked fondly on the U’s.
Despite the victory, U’s fans should not get their hopes up too much. We are on a decent run at the moment, but as we all know too well, it can all go horribly wrong and a couple of defeats down the line will see us fall back down the table. We should just enjoy these moments without getting carried away.
Wycombe are up next and it is dangerous to underestimate them. The U’s and Chairboys have had some battles down the years, with the rivalry being rather tame these days. I just hope we can go there and give a good account of ourselves and anything else is an added bonus.
Player Ratings
Ben Williams – 7 - Despite a healthy shots on goal stat, Williams only had a couple of decent saves to make. The U’s custodian will be delighted with another clean sheet.
Brian Wilson – 7 - Struggled to deal with Jackson in the air and was a little wasteful in possession, but did defend well when required and played his part in a heroic defensive display.
Magnus Okuonghae - MOTM - © cu-fc.com
Magnus Okuonghae – 9 – Man of the match - Really had his work cut out against Wright-Phillips dangerous runs and was more than a match for Kermogant in the air.
Tom Eastman – 8 - Hugely impressive display once again by the youngster. Ipswich must be kicking themselves in letting him go. Looks so comfortable at the back.
John White – 8 - Kept Green quiet and made some vital clearances. Not afraid to put his head where it hurts and has made a big difference to the defence since coming into the team.
Ian Henderson – 7 - Really hard-working performance by the fiery wide man. He didn’t see much of the ball, but tracked the full backs well after the substitution.
Kemal Izzet – 8 - Izzet threw his body in the way of everything and was his usual pit bull self. A really vital member of the team and a real captain’s performance.
Martin Rowlands – 7 - Another good performance by Rowlands. Was unable to get his foot on the ball like he has done recently, but was quick to get in the faces of the opponents and get his foot in. A real disciplined performance.
Anthony Wordsworth – 7 - An excellent goal from the U’s youngster. Is not able to be at his influential best in his unfavoured wide left position, but put a shift in for the side.
Steven Gillespie – 7 - A real tireless display. His goal epitomised his hard work as he chased and harried all over the park. 8 goals in his last 8 games, Gillespie is finding form at the right time to help shoot the U’s up the table.
Kayode Odejayi – 7 - The U’s battering ram had a real fight on his hands against a couple of quality defenders in Morrison and Taylor. Was a vital outlet in attack and despite not being dangerous in front of goal, gave the Charlton back line something to think about with his power and pace.
Subs
Andy Bond - Didn’t get much time on the pitch and came in to shore up the midfield.
Karl Duguid - Introduced to just run around a lot and get in the faces of Charlton.
