Colchester United have won 1-0 at Oldham Athletic

It was back to League Two action for the U's, but it was another victory as they beat the Latics 1-0.

The hosts had the better of things in the first half, but went in behind at the break.

Frank Nouble got clear on the left and struck a great right foot shot across Gary Woods and into the bottom corner.

The U's then manged things perfectly after the break, and took all three points as the hosts failed to break them down.

In the early stages of the game, it was the hosts that were finding it easier to create chances, with Mohammed Maouche in the thick of things.

He hit the outside of the post on six minutes, then had a shot blocked by Tom Eastman and another by one of his own teammates.

The U’s first chance came on seventeen minutes, but Luke Norris pulled his half volley effort wide after a flick on from Nouble.

Dylan Fage and Scott Wilson then should have scored for the hosts, but Fage’s header went backwards at the far post, and Wilson couldn’t even get a touch to a low cross.

Dean Gerken prevented the next chance resulting in a goal, getting out sharply to smother the ball as Wilson looked to get a shot away.

A break on forty minutes nearly got the U’s a goal, but Courtney Senior was denied by the onrushing Gary Woods in the home goal and Norris’ subsequent lob nestled on the top of the net.

The U’s did go in at half time with the lead though, as in the final minute, as Luke Norris played in Frank Nouble on the left.

Nouble strode forward, waited for Woods to advance and then struck his shot unerringly into the bottom corner, giving the home keeper no chance down to his left.

After the break, the U’s certainly prevented any clear cut chances early on, and it was defender Ryan Clampin who had the first shot of the half.

It was a speculative effort from distance for the young left back, flying not too far wide of the far post from thirty yards out.

That came on fifty nine minutes, and it was another eleven before the hosts had their first effort of the second period.

Fage, who was now playing left back, cut inside onto his right foot, but his powerful strike was superbly pushed wide by the diving Gerken.

As the U’s continued to manage the game without conceding chances, John McGreal made sure he had fresh legs on as he made three changes as the game wore on.

The first came on seventy three minutes, as Theo Robinson replaced Luke Gambin.

And the new loanee was immediately in the action and was unlucky not to double the lead.

He latched onto a Senior pass and curled his effort towards the far post, only to see it come back off the crossbar – Norris was denied on the rebound by a near post save from Woods.

Jevani Brown was introduced for Norris on eighty minutes, then Paris Cowan-Hall for Senior as the U’s looked to see the game out.

The hosts threw men and balls forward, but the U’s defence, in particular Tom Eastman and Luke Prosser, held firm and saw out the remaining minutes, and four of injury time.

The 1-0 win made it a great week for the U’s, with three wins and three clean sheets to finish the first month of the campaign.