Colchester United beat Rochdale AFC 1-0 in at home on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League Two action.
After multiple chances falling on the wrong side of the line for the U’s, Jaden Williams scored his first league goal for the Club as he inspired the team to a second win in their first three games.
Danny and Nicky Cowley started with a very similar side to the team that beat Oldham last Saturday. Thimothée Lo-Tutala remained in goal, a back line of Ellis Iandolo (making his 100th appearance for Col U), Sean Raggett, Jack Tucker, and Kane Vincent-Young, a midfield of Rob Hunt, Moses Sesay, and Jack Payne, with Harry Anderson, Oscar Thorn, and Bradley Ihionvien across the front.
A lively start saw the U’s enjoy a wealth of chances.
Starting on the front foot, Colchester United cleverly moved the ball across the pitch with Sesay, Anderson, Ihionvien, and Payne combining. Our no.10 then laid the ball right for Thorn to run onto, but the low cross was blocked.
Thorn again proved to be a threat on the right wing as he beat his marker to then deliver a cross the front post where Payne glanced an effort goalwards with his left foot, but Nils Ramming was able to save in the Rochdale goal.
As The Dale grew into the game, their first attack bore an opportunity in front of goal for Kane Taylor, but the winger put a headed shot well wide.
The U’s then had their best chance of the first half. As Payne pressed high and stole the ball of the Rochdale midfield, Ihionvien collected before playing Payne through on goal. The Dale’s Dan Moss recovered to make the tackle, but the ball fell to Ihionvien around the penalty spot. The striker’s low shot seemed a certain goal, but Ramming did well to deflect the ball for a corner.
Lo-Tutala was called into action shortly before half time as Taylor attempted to catch him out from 20 yards, but the Hull City loanee easily got down to save.
After a tight start to the second half between the teams, Danny and Nicky Cowley turned to their bench as Leon Chiwome and Jaden Williams replaced Ihionvien and Thorn, respectively.
The added energy made an instant impact as Anderson, now on the right wing, cut inside his marker and fired a shot across Ramming, but the goalkeeper stretched to palm the ball away.
The U’s had fully taken control of the game with Sesay, making his full debut for the Club, moments later driving into the box but dragging a shot wide of the post.
As Iandolo found licence to push further forward, he beat two defenders to cut a pass back towards the penalty spot where Payne was arriving, but Rochdale’s Harvey Gilmour rushed out and blocked the shot.
Raggett came close to his first Colchester United goal, but Payne’s dangerous delivery from a free-kick was just ahead of the centre-half arriving at the back post.
Col U finally found the breakthrough in the dying minutes. As they continued to threaten the visitors’ goal, the U’s worked the ball wide to Vincent-Young who delivered a low cross into the box. Williams beat his man and guided a shot into the top-left corner, hitting both the crossbar and the upright before bouncing down into the net.
Williams’ first League Two goal for Colchester United sealed three points for the second home game in a row, seeing the Cowleys’ side take seven points from their opening nine available.
A certain confidence boost as the U’s travel to south-west England on Tuesday evening to take on Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.
Starting XI
Lo-Tutala, Iandolo, Raggett, Tucker, Vincent-Young, Hunt (85'), Sesay (74'), Payne, Anderson, Thorn (57'), Ihionvien (57').
Subs