Colchester United secured a crucial 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Leyton Orient to give their hopes of staying up a big boost.

The U's recorded their first home win since October, thanks to goals from Gavin Massey and Kaspars Gorkss.

And despite Elliott Hewitt's late red card for serious foul play, Colchester held on for a precious three points in their battle to beat the drop.

Colchester almost took the lead in the opening minutes Orient keeper Gary Woods denied debutant Chris Porter, after Sammie Szmodics had delivered a low cross.

But the U’s went ahead in the 14th minute through Massey, who emphatically swept home from close range after Porter had headed on Sean Clohessy’s cross.

Orient almost replied immediately when Chris Dagnall hooked over from close range, while Ryan Hedges and David Mooney also went close for the visitors, who finished the half strongly.

But Colchester doubled their lead three minutes after the break when Gorkss rose to plant a fine header into the far corner, from David Fox’s corner.

Orient kept pushing and Dagnall had the ball in the net with a header, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

The U's were reduced to ten men with six minutes remaining when Elliott Hewitt was sent off for a foul on Romain Vincelot.

But although Orient piled on the pressure in the closing stages and John Lundstram's low effort had to be palmed away for a corner by keeper Sam Walker, the U's held on for a vital win.

For five pages of coverage of the U's game with Leyton Orient, see Monday's Daily Gazette.