Colchester United were winners at Morecambe in League Two

Arthur Read's fine free-kick was enough to secure the U's an impressive victory at the Mazuma Stadium, as they climbed seven points above the League Two relegation zone.

PERFECT DAY

NEW-LOOK Colchester United claimed their first win under the Cowleys with their 1-0 triumph at Morecambe – and it was thoroughly deserved.

‘That was typical of the Cowleys,’ remarked one home fan after the final whistle; the comment was very much meant as a compliment, for the U’s gutsy performance at the Mazuma Stadium bore all the characteristics of the kind of display the brothers have made their speciality, in their managerial successful career.

Alistair Smith and Riley Harbottle bulked Colchester up and helped them repel much of what Morecambe had to throw at them.

The U’s were successful in winning the ball high up the field and there was less building from the back; Colchester were more direct but in a good way and were still pleasing on the eye.

It was a competent all-round display by Colchester, consisting of some excellent individual performances.

As Danny Cowley said afterwards, it was the perfect away performance.

STRIKING RESEMBLANCE

IT’S quite a thing to be compared to the legendary Paul Gascoigne, who was a free-kick master.

Danny Cowley remarked on the striking resemblance between Arthur Read’s magnificent set-piece strike and one of the former Spurs and England maestro in his pomp was an accurate one.

Read has already shown on a number of occasions that he is capable of producing moments of such quality.

He has been Colchester’s most consistent player this season and the U’s are blessed to have a player of his quality at their disposal.

A SEXY BENCH

DANNY Cowley likes to think of his players in terms of ‘starters and finishers’, rather than starting players and substitutes.

It’s very much a team effort as far as the Colchester United head coach is concerned but he did acknowledge that he was able to name a ‘sexy bench’ for the game at Morecambe.

Colchester were certainly not short of attacking options against the Shrimps, with Conor Wilkinson, Harry Anderson, John Akinde, Matt Jay and Owura Edwards all at their disposal.

Of the ‘finishers’, Wilkinson made an impact in the half hour he was on the pitch, while Anderson, Akinde and Jay also played their part in helping the U’s see out the game and claim victory.

NEW-LOOK U'S

PRIOR to their win at Morecambe, it had been some time since Colchester United had won a game, let alone keep a clean sheet so it was extremely pleasing to see them achieve both.

It was the U’s first victory since December 22 and only their fourth league clean sheet of the season, a reflection of the defensive problems they have experienced in the first half of the season.

Colchester were indebted to goalkeeper Owen Goodman for his penalty save from Gerard Garner early in the second half, while Jacob Bedeau should have at least hit the target with a far-post header, in the closing stages.

However, Colchester defended well as a team and looked resolute, despite this being a new-look side featuring several debutants.

SUPER SMITH

THERE can’t be too many more accomplished Colchester United debuts over recent years than the one produced by Alistair Smith at Morecambe.

As Danny Cowley mentioned afterwards, Smith covered every blade of grass for the U’s and was impressive from start to finish.

Smith’s eye-catching midfield performances for Sutton United against Colchester over the last couple of years have stood out and the midfielder produced the kind of dominant display that convinced Lincoln City that he was capable of making the step up to League One, last summer.

The former Mansfield Town youngster has played his fair share of games for the Imps this season and if he maintains this standard of performance between now and the end of the campaign, Colchester will reap the benefits of a player clearly hungry to impress.