Eight wins in a row is just great for Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson.

Goal hero - Jamie Cureton (left) was the toast of the U's fans last night after he hit the back of the net at Victoria Park to give his side a 1-0 win at Hartlepool and equal the club's record winning run. (46691-10)

A smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at Hartlepool United last night in Coca-Cola League One has seen the U's equal the club record for consecutive wins that was set in the 1987/88 season.

And for Parkinson, the victory - at a rain-sodden Victoria Park - was a significant one in their campaign for promotion.

He said: "We knew that this was going to be a big test for us.

"We knew also that the rest of the teams in the league would be looking tonight to see how we'd get on.

"It has turned heads and now people are asking, maybe Colchester's challenge in the league can be a sustained one."

The three points has now lifted the U's into the play-off positions, however, it was not an easy game against Hartlepool, a team that were looking to bounce back after exiting the FA Cup at the second round to Tamworth with a 2-1 defeat at Victoria Park.

Parkinson said: "After the result they had in the cup people were expecting a big reaction from them.

"A successful team, though, will get on with it and we did that."

More in today's Evening Gazette

More on Colchester United FC

Have your say on our Views on the U's bulletin board

Published Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette