Fine performance gets Joe off to a flier.
Colchester United landed their first win of the new season on Saturday as they left their fans with the widest smiles for a while.A vibrant U's performance helped them to all three points and, having grabbed three goals, they could have scored more in a scintillating display of football.
It was eight games of tension coming out in one ninety minutes as the U's moved the ball at pace and with intent, throughout the ninety minutes.
Jabo Ibehre made himself an instant hero with two goals on his debut, whilst the other loanees more than played their part in an impressive display.
Joe included all three within his starting eleven and, after an early error helped the visitors into the lead, Eastmond was imperious throughout the rest of the ninety minutes to help the U's to victory.
The U's fell behind after just five minutes as the U's tried to spread the ball wide, only for it to be intercepted and for Lynch to lash it home after Cousins.
Cousins looked like he might have to come off not long afterwards having caught his finger on the crossbar, and had to have it put back in by the U's medical team on the ptich.
He opted to battle on and, for the rest of the half, the U's lifted their game as they laid siege to the visitors' goal.
The key moment in the first half, though, came at the defensive end of the pitch as a Pools corner was headed forcefully towards goal, only for Rose to pop up at the far post and head off the line.
Watt also was being set away by fellow Gunner Eastmond, running at the defence and forcing tackles from the opposing defence.
Ibehre's influence was growing in the game and he fended off the attention of three Pools defenders before his shot went narrowly wide.
The U's had a shout for a penalty on twenty minutes as Massey went down under a heavy tackle, but the referee had little interest in giving the decision.
Wordsworth tested Flinders with a shot from close range, before sending in Massey through shortly aftwerwards. His ball was just too heavy on this occasion, but it was a signal of the U's future intent.
They had pressed the ball high up the pitch throughout, and Ibehre capitalised on a poor back header to beat Flinders and send the home fans into delirium.
The U's tails were up now and they got their noses in front just before the break.
Seven minutes before half time, they drew level. Another through ball from Watt sent Massey in on goal, and the former Watford man made no mistake as he calmly slotted the ball home.
Massey was seeing a lot of the ball, riding challenges and giving his full back plenty to think about as the half got underway.
In the lead at the break, the U's came out on the front foot, looking to kill the game off.
In the lead at the break, the U's came out on the front foot, looking to kill the game off.
Just four minutes after half time, Ibehre forced Flinders into a fine save, before Bean also stretched the Hartlepool keeper with a looping effort that looked destined to find the top corner.
Rose tested the keeper from distance, then Wordsworth had a shot deflected over after the two loanees Watt and Ibehre combined to set him up.
Pools' opportunities were rare and Cousins gathered off the head of Howard after a scramble in the U's penalty area.
It was a matter of time before the U's got their third and it was big man Ibehre who got it, meeting a deep Rose cross to get past the Hartlepool back line and bundle home from close range.
The U's kept their two goal margin to the end and came away delighted with their first triumph of the season.
Ten minutes to go and Ibehre almost completed his hat-trick, as a low Wilson cross fizzed across the area and went just past the striker's outstretched leg.