AN INSPIRED substitution by Danny Cowley helped Colchester United register their first away victory of the season after they won 1-0 at Grimsby Town this afternoon.

JK Gordon fired home the U's winner in the 78th minute from Jack Payne's pass, less than three minutes after the duo had been sent on as second-half substitutes for the visitors at a rain-sodden Blundell Park.

It was a fine victory for Colchester, who to a man battled hard throughout in very difficult conditions to secure a first win in nine League Two matches.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made three changes to his starting line-up for the lunchtime clash.

Samson Tovide, Owura Edwards and Ben Goodliffe all came into the side, with Jack Payne and JK Gordon dropping to the bench and Tom Flanagan missing out through injury.

Lyle Taylor captained Colchester in Flanagan’s absence, while Teddy Bishop was named among the substitutes after returning from injury.

The game kicked off in swirling wind and rain and with the floodlights shining brightly and Edwards, making his first start since September, was booked in the opening minute for a foul on Curtis Thompson.

But Colchester, playing against the strong wind in the first half, made the better start and came close to scoring in the third minute when a brilliant break by Tovide saw him send in a first-time cross which was diverted away for a corner by a defender at the far post, with Harry Anderson closing in.

And the U’s came even closer four minutes later when Anderson's diving header was saved by Mariners goalkeeper Jordan Wright at close range, following Taylor's cross.

But Grimsby almost took a 16th-minute lead when a ball into the U’s box found Callum Ainley whose shot from point-blank range was brilliantly stopped by Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey, who got down low to stop the shot on the slippery surface.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

However, Colchester had another good opportunity on the half hour when Tovide fired straight at Wright at his near post from Arthur Read's pass, after Grimsby had given the ball away midway inside their own half.

The sides went in goal-less at the break but Colchester had an effort ruled out for offside just after the hour mark when Anderson had the ball in the net from Goodliffe's headed flick-on, after a Read corner into the box.

Wright turned away Tovide's low strike for a corner at his near post after the U's striker found room in the Grimsby area but at the other end, Aaron Donnelly did well to clear inside his own box, after the hosts had made inroads in the final third.

But the deadlock was broken in the 78th minute when Gordon collected a pass from fellow substitute Jack Payne to fire a low shot past Wright, after good play by Mandela Egbo down the right flank earlier in the move.

Macey made an excellent save to deny Grimsby substitute Justin Obikwu in stoppage time but despite seven minutes being added at the end, the U's held on for an excellent away victory.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Macey, Egbo, Goodliffe, Donnelly, Iandolo, McDonnell, Read (sub Woodyard, 88), Anderson, Edwards (sub Gordon, 75), Tovide, Taylor (sub Payne, 75).

Substitutes (not used): Hunt, Kelleher, Bishop, Smith.

Grimsby Town: Wright, Rodgers, Thompson (sub Davies, 76), Luker, Barrington (sub Svanthorsson, 82), Ainley, McJannet, Warren, Khoiuri, Rose (sub Obikwu, 76), Hume.

Substitutes (not used): Auton, Cass, Gardner, Tharme.

Referee: Martin Woods.

Goals: Colchester: Gordon (78).

Bookings: Colchester: Edwards (foul, 1), Egbo (foul, 27), Macey (unsporting behaviour, 90).

Sending off: None.

Attendance: 4,952 (218 U's fans).