THE sun was shining and there was even free beer for the fans to enjoy a taste of before the U's game with Notts County, so already the afternoon was off to a great start.

But of course, the main event was yet to come, with the last two Colchester United games bringing ifs, buts and maybes, with some good football played.

However, with only one point from six, there was hope more than expectation among the U’s fans on how the match against the league leaders would play out.

READ MORE: Two-goal hero Arthur Read relished being part of U's thriller

While it is very fair to say that we have played our better football against the better teams this year (just look at Gillingham away as the prime example) we were under no illusions that we had to bring our A game to the party, in order to get anything from the encounter.

But I don’t think anyone expected the game that was about to unfold before our eyes.

Gazette:

It was a cracking nine-goal thriller that had it all, with the U’s winning 5-4 in what has to be the best game witnessed at the stadium to date.

There were twists and turns throughout.

With Colchester going in 3-1 up at the break, there was an air of optimism that with an early second-half goal we would put the game to bed.

However, with the visitors getting a toe hold back in the game three minutes after the re-start, there was a worry of a complete reversal.

READ MORE: 'Brilliant team' - Notts County boss Luke Williams on U's game

We then struck our fourth and looked back in control, but of course that would be too easy!

County found a way through for their third, only for Arthur Read to hit a sweet strike from outside the box straight into the top corner, our fifth, his second of the match and a goal that could well have won goal of the season already and we were only in September.

It wasn't a bad afternoon all round for Read, a sweet free-kick for his first goal for the club in the first half, then that for his second and a rightly deserved man of the match rounding off a first class afternoon.

Gazette:

With the score at 5-3 we had breathing space, until the referee gave a second yellow to Cameron McGeehan and send him for an early shower.

It was harsh on the lad - the first yellow was for kicking the ball away, when his momentum was more to blame than a deliberate act of time wasting and his second was for a foul that was nothing of the sort, more a coming together of players while we were on the counter attack.

A busy afternoon for Cameron - a solid performance, his first Colchester goal and a red card, all in the space of 79 minutes.

After all this action and the game ebbing and flowing for 80 minutes, it was clear we would be in for a nail-biting last ten, which turned into 20 with the officials adding ten minutes extra on.

READ MORE: U's fans have their say on enthralling Notts County game

Notts County threw everything at the ten-man U’s and found the net on 90+2 to set up a nervy final eight minutes but after what seemed an age, the final whistle blew on a match that will live long in the memory of those who were there.

Colchester did everything right, physically and mentally, with all that was thrown at them.

Some of the referee's decisions did raise some eyebrows but this should not take anything away from what we produced - every man gave their all.

Gazette:

The fans threw all they could behind the side and we can look back on a job well done.

Read was magnificent, Jayden Fevrier unplayable and full of energy, Noah Chilvers back to his confident self.

Everyone put a shift in and I could go through the whole side showering them with praise, but you get the idea.

Now comes the hard part and the bit we have struggled with. We now have to back this win up with another strong performance and winning mentality when we make the trip to Newport.

READ MORE: Was epic U's game the greatest ever at the Community Stadium?

A quick turnaround and if we are to gain any traction from all the positives from the Notts County game, we must go there and get a result.

We know we can play well; the trick is to do it consistently and that is the challenge we face.

Beat Newport, followed by victory against Morecambe at home next Saturday, then maybe we can see the turning point we are all hoping for.

We can beat anyone on our day, we just need to ensure it is our day more often than not. Up the U’s.