Colchester bagged a huge win in the fight for survival in League Two by beating Newport 2-1.
Newport took the lead through Offrande Zanzala three minutes before half-time despite Colchester’s dominance. The number ten picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and dinked it over Owen Goodman who was off his line.
In the second half, the U’s found their deserved equaliser with substitute Ellis Iandolo. The defender sneaked in at the back post to poke home an Arthur Read corner and there was still plenty of time left on the clock to find a winner.
Noah Chilvers had a great chance to net but for a goal-line block from the visitors. And it was Jay Mingi who stole the headlines, smashing the ball home in added time to seal the win for the home side.
Danny Cowley made one change to the team that picked up a valuable point at Mansfield last Saturday, with John Akinde coming in for Tom Hopper to lead the line.
The U’s were looking for their first home win of 2024, last claiming three points at the JobServe Community Stadium against Salford in December.
And after a resilient display against the Stags, the crowd were expecting another solid outing in the North Essex sunshine.
With so much on the line, it was unsurprising to see the U’s dominate the early proceedings.
Read tested the Mansfield defence with a few dangerous set pieces and Akinde was proving to be a lot to handle with his powerful presence in the penalty box.
A few strikes from range were the main highlights of the opening twenty minutes, with Read and Brad Ihionvien both sending the ball into the north stand while Owen Goodman had little to do at the other end.
The U’s best opening chance came through Alastair Smith, who rattled the crossbar after Harry Anderson burst through the defensive line and teed him up.
Ihionvien nodded the follow-up over the bar but it was an encouraging sign for Cowley’s men.
Another huge opportunity followed as Cameron McGeehan played Ihionvien through on goal. The young striker delivered a perfect pass across to Akinde who saw his strike saved by Nick Townsend in goal.
The Colchester players continued to push in the remaining minutes of the first half but fell behind with three minutes to go.
A miscommunication between the defence and goalkeeper saw Zanzala given time and space on the ball and he was able to lift it over those in the way to give the visitors the lead.
A big second-half performance was required if the U’s were going to turn the game around and Danny Cowley made it clear to the crowd that they were going to be needed as the players kicked towards the south stand.
There were no changes from either side and the home side had an early shout for a penalty after Harry Anderson was tackled in the box, but referee Sunny Gill was not phased by the appeals.
McGeehan almost found the leveller having been played through by Akinde but the ball was just too heavy and the Northern Irishman’s touch allowed Newport to clear the danger.
The first changes of the afternoon were made ten minutes into the second half, with Tom Dallison and Ihionvien making way for Iandolo and Samson Tovide.
It was an instant impact from Tovide who held the ball up for Smith to play Anderson in, but his powerful cross missed every white and blue shirt.
Townsend was forced into a fantastic save from Akinde with just under thirty minutes to play. The target man fired a half volley towards the goal, but the stopper was equal to the effort.
He was in action a moment later as Smith fired on target, this time Townsend got down low and turned it behind for a corner.
With another throw of the dice, the boss introduced Chilvers and Tom Hopper for Smith and Akinde as we rolled into the final stretch of the game.
A few moments later, the goal came.
After Fevrier won a corner for his side, Read ran over to take it, delivering a dangerous inswinging ball that was met at the back post by Iandolo, whose finish was met with a roar from the delighted crowd.
Newport were doing their bit to kill the clock and escape with a point, but the U’s were determined to push until the end.
Chilvers was gifted a superb opportunity to land the winner and he did well to create space for himself in the box, but Newport were able to get in front of his shot to keep the scores level.
But it would not matter as the U’s struck a second in injury time.
Some mouthwatering play between McGeehan and Mingi gave the versatile midfielder space and time in the box and he showed great composure to drill into the roof of the net and send the crowd into raptures.
Colchester XI: Goodman, Hall, Dallison (Iandolo, 55), McGeehan, Read, Anderson, Mingi, Akinde (Hopper, 72), Smith (Chilvers, 72), Fevrier (Kelleher, 90), Ihionvien (Tovide, 55)
Subs: Hornby, Iandolo, Kelleher, Jay, Tovide, Chilvers Hopper
Newport XI: Townsend, Payne, Evans, Morris, Zanzala (Palmer-Houlden, 68), Bennett, Charsley, Jameson, Wildig (Waite, 69), Baker, Bondswell (Bright, 73)
Subs: Waite, Bright, Rai, Maxted, Palmer-Houlden, Jephcott, Sanca
Attendance 4,308 (237 away)
