3:55pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
By Jonathan Waldron
Colchester United assistant manager John Ward praised the professionalism of the club’s players after they took the bragging rights in the televised Essex derby.
The U’s saw off rivals Southend United 2-0 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, thanks to a brace from midfielder Anthony Wordsworth.
Colchester’s plans for the big match were thrown into disarray before the match after manager Aidy Boothroyd was called away on his birthday because of a family illness.
Boothroyd left Essex at tea-time to travel to the Midlands, leaving assistant manager Ward and first-team coach Joe Dunne in charge of team affairs for the derby match.
And they helped guide Colchester to their first double of the season in Coca-Cola League One, at the expense of the Blues.
Ward said: “We had a situation when suddenly the manager is not here.
“The players were told at 6.15pm but they have to get on with it just the same."
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk