Colchester United made it back to back wins after beating Gillingham 2-1 this afternoon to end the leaders' unbeaten run and chalk up their first home win of the season.

Callum Harriott netted the U's first-half winner and keeper Jamie Jones saved Cody McDonald's penalty, as Tony Humes' side made it seven points out of nine.

In keeping with Colchester’s entertaining recent matches, the game started at a frantic pace.

The U’s almost found themselves behind inside two minutes when McDonald’s shot struck a post for Gillingham.

But Colchester took a fourth-minute lead through Gavin Massey, who finished superbly from Harriott’s pass.

The U’s lead last just three minutes, though.

Gillingham striker Luke Norris ran onto McDonald’s flick and slotted smartly low past Jones, for 1-1.

The contest continued to ebb and flow, as both sides went on the attack.

Jones denied Josh Wright before Harriott restored Colchester’s lead just before the half hour with a sweet left-foot strike, following good work by both Matthew Briggs and George Moncur.

Gillingham were awarded a penalty soon after when Frankie Kent, making his first league start of the season in place of the suspended George Elokobi, was ruled to have handled Brennan Dickenson’s cross in the area.

But U’s keeper Jamie Jones, who was their penalty hero at Sheffield United in midweek, smartly saved McDonald’s spot-kick.

Jones then made a superb save just after half-time to deny Jordan Houghton and then followed that up by foiling McDonald, as the Gills looked for an equaliser.

Jones denied Dack while at the other end, Briggs' long-range thunderbolt whistled past the post as the game finished at a frantic pace.

Max Ehmer went close with a header for Gillingham but Colchester held out to record another excellent win.

For five pages of coverage of the U’s game with Gillingham, see Monday’s Daily Gazette.