Alan White is not renowned for scoring too many goals.

"I'm your typical one-a-season man," he proudly pointed out.

But when he does score they are almost always vitally important - just like his 70th-minute winner which scooped Colchester United all three points from this match.

The U's defender wheeled away in utter delight after glancing in his match-winning header from Thomas Pinault's cross.

It was no more than the confident, but injury-hit, U's side deserved.

They made most of the running against what, larger than life visiting manager Barry Fry readily admitted, was a very 'ordinary' Peterborough side.

Yet it was the Posh who raced into the lead in a storming start to the match that threw up two goals in 60 seconds with less than eight minutes on the clock.

The U's conceded a corner on the left and skipper Andy Edwards, back in action after a one-match ban, kick-started his goal-tally for the season by powerfully heading in from close range after Simon Rea was on hand to nod on Jimmy Bullard's flag-kick.

Edwards and his defensive colleagues were still celebrating the goal 30 seconds later as U's top marksman Scott McGleish, a former Posh player, seized on the ball in oceans of space straight from the kick-off to plant a 15-yard equaliser past advancing keeper Mark Tyler.

It was McGleish's 11th goal of the season and he celebrated in great style with his customary double backward somersault.

The goal clearly hurt the visitors while at the same time stinging the U's into life and they went on to enjoy the lion's share of the rest of the match.

Only one point seperated the teams in mid-table at the start of the match so it was a particularly important win for manager Steve Whitton and the U's, for whom goalkeeper Andy Woodman and club skipper Simon Clark another ex-Peterborough player were making their 50th League appearances.

U's boss Whitton also handed Republic of Ireland Under-21 international and Arsenal reserve team striker Graham Barrett signed on loan little over 24 hours earlier his debut as a second-half substitute.

But it was the ever-dangerous McGleish who threatened more danger to the visitors before the first half was out.

There was a let-off for the U's, however, in the 34th minute as David Farrell, rushing into the penalty box, saw his close range effort cannon off Woodman to safety when a goal looked a certainty.

The free scoring Bullard, young master of several spectacular long-range goals already this season, was was only just off target for the Posh again a minute later following a free-kick routine 25 yards out.

Even so, it was difficult to imagine from their quality of play that the U's had won only once in their previous ten outings.

Joseph Keith came within an ace of putting the U's in front 11 minutes after the break with a delicate chip that Tyler finger-tipped over the bar for a corner, while McGleish tested Tyler with another angled, lofted-shot on the hour.

Enter young Gunner Barrett, who had already enjoyed his League debut while on loan with Bristol Rovers last season.

Barrett had only been on the pitch 12 minutes when White scored what proved to be the winner.

And, he forced Tyler into an injury-time save at full-stretch just minutes after fellow second half substitute Dean Morgan had done the same and Keith had curled another fine effort just wide of a post.

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Published Monday December 17, 2001