Colchester United have been beaten by a single goal at Stockport County's Edgeley Park this evening, with Kyle Wooton's second half header enough to separate the two teams.
It remained goalless under the baking sun in Greater Manchester after the first forty-five minutes, despite the hosts having the better chances and plenty more of the ball.
But they turned the screw in the second period, getting the all-important goal and maintaining their advantage to claim their first league win of the season.
The U’s lined up at Edgeley Park with two changes to the starting eleven from Tuesday’s Carabao Cup victory against Ipswich Town.
Freddie Sears had recovered from a knock sustained against Carlisle United seven days ago, with Ryan Clampin returning to the starting line-up, with the two coming in for Cole Skuse and Ossama Ashley.
The newest Colchester United recruit, Charlie Owens was named on the bench for the U’s, with fellow summer signing, Kieran O’Hara, included in Wayne Brown’s matchday eighteen for the first time since his arrival in North Essex.
The opening twenty minutes saw action at both ends of the field, but the home side would have been happier with their chances in front of goal. It also saw the beginnings of an intriguing battle in the middle of the park, with Chilvers and Marshall Miranda facing up against Camps and Croasdale.
Marley Marshall Miranda had the opening effort for the U’s, picking the pocket of County’s midfield high up the pitch. Pushing a few yards towards goal, the young midfielder shot just wide of the mark, with Jaros worried between the sticks.
But more action would happen at the other end of the pitch, with the U’s defence called into action to deny the hosts the first goal of the game. Experienced EFL striker Paddy Madden brought the ball down well from the left flank, turning to shoot straight at the outstretched legs of Tom Eastman.
His powerful effort was only half cleared before the ball was recycled from the right hand side this time. Antoni Sarcevic was able to get his head on the ball, but couldn’t find the direction, with his effort straight at Hornby in the U’s goal.
Noah Chilvers was the first man into the book at Edgeley Park, shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Antoni Sarcevic, as the hosts looked to break. It was a rare break from the County defence who enjoyed large periods of the first half with the ball, forcing Sears and Nouble to feed off scraps up front, struggling to test the three-man home back line.
But despite having over three quarters of possession in the first period, the hosts couldn’t find a way through the U’s back line, with the teams heading to the changing rooms goalless at the break.
There were a couple of early changes for the hosts, with Wootton and Elliot Newby brought on in place of Southam-Hales and Croasdale, with Dave Challinor looking to put the pressure on the U’s.
And it was one of the substitutes that found the breakthrough at Edgeley Park for the hosts, with Kyle Wootton on target in the sixty-eighth minute. It was a simple goal for the hosts, with the cross delivered from the right flank to the forward, who had an easy header beyond Sam Hornby to make it 1-0.
Following the goal, the hosts started to lower the tempo of the game, again maintaining a high percentage of possession as the U’s struggled to create chances at the other end.
It was enough to see them out for the last twenty minutes of the game, as Wayne Brown tried to change things with a few substitutes, but the hosts proved too strong, taking their first three points of the season.
Up next for Colchester United is another League Two game, back at the JobServe Community Stadium, when they will take on Bradford City on Tuesday evening.
Stockport County starting XI: Jaros, Southam-Hales (Newby 58’), Camps, Madden (Evans 81’), Sarcevic, Crankshaw (Horsfall 81’), Johnson, Brown, Croasdale (Wootton 58’), Hippolyte, Lewis.
Subs: Hinchliffe, Horsfall, Evans, Rydel, Wooton, Newby, Quigley.
Colchester United starting XI: Hornby, Clampin (Owens 69’), Chambers, Hannant (Newby 80’), Sears, Chilvers, Eastman, Tchamadeu, Kazeem, Marshall Miranda (Tovide 90’), Nouble (Akinde 80’).
Subs: O’Hara, Dallison, Newby, Owens, Akinde, Coxe, Tovide.
