REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER
The U's continued their excellent league form as they gained a hard earned three points on their travels.

It was to be a well competed game, but scrappy match in parts, played on a firm but good pitch. The home side tried to play the long game whilst Colchester adopted their usual passing style.

It was Colchester who took the lead just after the quarter hour mark when Shane Stamp did some good work on the flank, and his cross in was half volleyed into the net via the post by Jordan Sanderson.

However, the home team drew level due to a defensive error.

A throw in came into the box but was missed, and the Dagenham striker put the shot away with a smartly taken overhead kick which went into the roof of the net after 27 minutes.

Half time came with the score at 1-1.

After the interval Colchester tried to play some football, whilst Dagenham were content to sit in and try and stop the visitors get any sort of control in the game.

However, Colchester then struck again with a very well taken goal.

It was a Jordan Lartey run on the right, and he found Jordan Pavett, who in turn picked out Jordan Lartey at the back post who netted on 51 minutes.

Having worked so hard to get the lead, the U's then gifted one away in strange circumstances two minutes later.

A free kick was conceded and the set piece was played in from about 40 yards out.

Keeper Shane Cusack hesitated in coming out, then when he did, the ball then bounced up, looped over his head and into the net.

A big shame for the keeper who has made some good saves in the season.

However this was to be forgotten, as there was to be a happy end for his team.

He redeemed himself with a good save, and watched on as two of his team mates made his weekend a lot better.

With the game still remaining rather scrappy, Colchester edged ahead again with 12 minutes to go as Craig Arnott spun off a defender, then moved onto the ball with a second defender and the keeper closing him down quickly.

He bravely went in where it might hurt and lobbed the ball in. A quality goal, by a potentially quality striker.

Only one sub was used and that was Ryan Melaugh on for Jordan Lartey and the game was sealed in injury time as Arnott and Pavett combined to set up Sanderson who moved onto a pass, to put the ball into an empty net.

It was another hard working display by the boys, and a much deserved victory at the end of it.

Team: Shane Cusack, Bradley Hamilton, John Glowacki, Trevor Ajim, Shane Stamp, Jordan Lartey, Louis O'Sullivan, Conor McCloskey, Jordan Sanderson, Craig Arnott and Jordan Pavett

Used sub: Ryan Melaugh and unused subs: Andrew Dickey, Cem Aytac, Tanar Palazi and Mason Stewart