Ibehre double gives U's victory at Stevenage

4:52pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport By Jonathan Waldron

Brilliant brace - Jabo Ibehre scored twice in the U's 2-0 win at Stevenage. Brilliant brace - Jabo Ibehre scored twice in the U's 2-0 win at Stevenage.

Colchester United boosted their survival hopes with an impressive 2-0 win at Stevenage.

The U's recorded back-to-back wins in League One, thanks to a fine brace from Jabo Ibehre at Broadhall Way.

Colchester had plenty of chances in the first half and looked the better of the two sides going forward.

Tom Eastman blazed over from close range, while George Porter had a shot cleared off the line by David Gray and Stevenage keeper Chris Day denied Ibehre's follow-up attempt, as the U's pressed for an opener.

Freddie Sears also went close but Bor'o' arguably had the best chance of the first half.

Anthony Grant looked certain to score after being picked out by Lucas Akins in the area but the former Southend United man was denied by a fine save by U's keeper Sam Walker.

But the deadlock was broken just after the hour, when Jabo Ibehre leapt brilliantly to head in Billy Clifford's free-kick to give the U's the lead.

And Colchester doubled their lead with 18 minutes to go when Ibehre tapped in from Gavin Massey's low cross, after Porter's pass had split the Stevenage defence.

The U's went in search of a third goal before the end but in the end, two goals proved sufficient for an important win.

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's game at Stevenage, see Monday's Gazette.

Comments(17)

Barside1 says...
6:17pm Sat 2 Mar 13

In the circumstances, I would rate this as the result of the season!

Very well done.

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
7:25pm Sat 2 Mar 13

"There are too many young ones in the team with no experience" or "All the loan player's means that no one is up for the battle because they'll just go back to their clubs" or perhaps "We're relegated already"........or my favourite "Joe Dunne is out of his depth".

I hope all of you who have made comments like the above or something similar are choking on your HUMBLE PIE.

Now get behind Joe and the team and do what you're all meant to do, support them.

Well done Joe and the everyone at the club.

Up the U's

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Medicated Soap says...
7:44pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Another excellent win, especially in the context of our away form this season, we played some of our best football of the season against a confidence shot Stevenage side. Even I’m becoming cautiously optimistic that we have a good chance of staying up now, if we can keep up the same level of performance with the tempo, energy, and passion we’ve seen in the last two games. From the despair of 7 days ago to now, just shows how fast things can turn around, come on you mighty U’s let’s keep this momentum going for the rest of the season!!

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Catboy says...
8:30pm Sat 2 Mar 13

A big up to all of the supporters that went today. That made a massive difference, brilliant support. We have a superb group of supporters that hang on through thick and thin. The mighty U's destroyed them. Come on boys the Monkey Hangers next!!

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lollardknight says...
9:03pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Great game, well done to all the players and fans today! After last Saturdays horrible game the team seem to have found their work rate and passing! With Eastman and Wilson back last few games it has made such a difference, Porter, Walker and Jabo were excellent today and the surprise of all is Andy Bond.....great passes and attitude.
If we can beat Hartlepool Tuesday then safety can be in sight. very well done U's!

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crazy comments says...
9:30pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Well done the lads and a very welcome win. Sorry but I'm not getting carried away to much just yet, because Stevenage were not a strong side and looked like a relegation team,much like we did last Saturday.If we can get a result at Hartlepool mid week then the confidence will do us a power of good. Players like Andy Bond thrive on it, and like lollardknight mentioned I thought he played well today. Must admit i'm having a little celebration and few drinks tonight and would not be surprised if Joe's not doing the same. Keep it going lads.

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United we stand says...
10:14pm Sat 2 Mar 13

"We're not singing" has a point - and I am one of the fans that has been thinking that Joe is out-of-his-depth!
It's certainly been a topsy-turvy week with the whole gambit of emotions coming into play for us Col Utd followers.
Relieved and very pleased with today's win even if Stevenage are on the sort of run that we endured a short while ago. Great to see Jabo on the scoresheet again too. Such a strong player for us.
Dare we hope for another morale boosting result at Hartlepool on Tuesday? Yes, why not?!

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25414nora says...
10:21pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I tip my hat to the 400 or so Col u suporters behind the goal (visitors end) You were absolutely great.

I know it's too early as yet, to talk about being safe in league 1.. things have bad habit of going sour, but the last two games have been a revelation.

I'm wondering how on earth we got stuffed at home against Tranmere, when virtually the same playes are now playing out of their skins.
Roll on next week and Crewe..

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Steve86 says...
11:09pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Great result, another needed win. That puts us 6th bottom, hopefully a few more wins to take the stress off the shoulders.

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Boris says...
11:26pm Sat 2 Mar 13

25414nora wrote:
I tip my hat to the 400 or so Col u suporters behind the goal (visitors end) You were absolutely great.

I know it's too early as yet, to talk about being safe in league 1.. things have bad habit of going sour, but the last two games have been a revelation.

I'm wondering how on earth we got stuffed at home against Tranmere, when virtually the same playes are now playing out of their skins.
Roll on next week and Crewe..
The same Tranmere who thrashed us last week were beaten to-day by Yeovil, that very ordinary-looking side that we beat on Tuesday. It's a funny old world.
But we've got six points from 2 games. More of the same please, Joe and the boys. No draws please, just keep going for the win every time. Another 5 wins should be enough, with any extra being a bonus.
Up the U's.

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angryman!!! says...
3:23am Sun 3 Mar 13

yes I think 5 wins would def be enough. main thing on Tuesday is not to lose as that will pretty much be the nail in the coffin for Hartlepool, mk are not doing so well either so fingers crossed can get 4 points from the next 2 games, although im sure the management wont be settling for anything less than 6. nice to have that happy feeling on a Saturday night.

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wellnow says...
10:45am Sun 3 Mar 13

Funny old game stuffed by Tranmere 5-1 beat yeovil 2-0 yeovil beat Tranmere. You couldn't write that as a believable script.

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Clacc says...
11:25am Sun 3 Mar 13

"I’m becoming cautiously optimistic that we have a good chance of staying up now..."

I think those are my feelings too.

As "angry" says, it's important not to lose the upcoming games. A win away on Tuesday is obviously the best outcome, but the draw acceptable, especially if we can beat Crewe on our own turf a few days later.

My worry is picking up a few injuries, particularly Jabo. With such a hectic and important fixture list coming over the next few months he's so crucial to the side and he's not getting any younger to give the amount of effort he does match after match.

Fingers crossed and up the U's

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BlueandWhiteBaz says...
12:05pm Sun 3 Mar 13

This is the first time, for a very long time, I have felt we have enough about us to pull clear of relegation. Jabo Ibehre was immense and, if we do nothing else, we must secure his services again next season. His workrate is incredible and is superb when it comes to running down the clock at the end of games when we are in front. The whole team seem to have more togetherness and they seem to be enjoying the success they have had in the last two games. Andy Bond has been a complete revelation and yesterday was probably his best ever game in a U's shirt. Operating the holding midfield role, he tackled superbly and when he won the ball he played a simple accurate pass never giving the ball away cheaply.

It's probably wrong to single out those two players because collectively everybody played their part. It's now important, having built up a little bit of confidence, we hold it together at Hartlepool. The worse thing would be, having wrestled the intiative away from those around us we don't hand it back to them again. Lets now keep the momentum going and another three points on Tuesday will see us starting to see pull away from the danger zone.

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Eddy D says...
6:44pm Sun 3 Mar 13

An excellent win and a thoroughly enjoyable game. I enjoyed it from start to finish and it seemed to pass by really quick. It was also the first time in a long time I felt comfortable that we wouldn concede.
To a man they were all excellent as were the fans. A great day on the road.
Andy Bond I thought was excellent, he broke up the and recycled the ball well. Bond in this form, Eastman back in the centre and Wilson's upturn in form have made a huge difference. I think in Wilson we now have the captain we've been looking for in Izzets absence. He's looked calmed and assured the last two games again. The responsibility has brought his game back I think and he is a very good, model pro for the younger lads.
I would also like to highlight Clinton Morrison when he came on too. His touch and lay off started the move that led to the second goal and those are often the positions where we lose possession and then find ourselves on the back foot. He also spent a lot of time directing players when he came on and played with a smile on his face. COnsidering he's often highlighted as a bit of a joker and a whinger he seems to me very committed and I think he could play a part yet. 5-6 more wins will be enough as long as we at least avoid defeat against Hartlepool, Oldham and Shrewsbury. The important thing is it is now back in our control. The thrashing against Tranmere could prove to be our "best" result this season. The same application and attitude from the players the rest of this season and we will be fine.
We've seen this league is a matter of graft and attitude because the quality of the teams is not hugely different. We made Yeovil look very ordinary and Stevenage too.
Well done Joe, his team and the players. Excellent week.

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super waluigi says...
1:26pm Mon 4 Mar 13

I am not sure if colchester uniteds fans are mostly fickle or just stupid!!!!!
We win a few and Joe is the messiah. We lose 9 and he is out of his depth. We win a couple and the team will stay up, we lose 1-5 and we are down for sure. Now we win back to back games and all of a sudden we are on the road to safety. The majority of Col U fans cannot see the bigger picture here.

Back to the game. What a result. I am not sure we will have so much joy against all of the top teams plsying this way, which is why I tend to agree with Eddie D in saying avoiding defeat against Hartlepool, Oldham and shrews is vital. Winning 5 games will be difficult and also probably vital. Hartlepool, Oldham and Scunny are all capable of winning half of their games too.

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Boris says...
12:50am Tue 5 Mar 13

super waluigi wrote:
I am not sure if colchester uniteds fans are mostly fickle or just stupid!!!!!
We win a few and Joe is the messiah. We lose 9 and he is out of his depth. We win a couple and the team will stay up, we lose 1-5 and we are down for sure. Now we win back to back games and all of a sudden we are on the road to safety. The majority of Col U fans cannot see the bigger picture here.

Back to the game. What a result. I am not sure we will have so much joy against all of the top teams plsying this way, which is why I tend to agree with Eddie D in saying avoiding defeat against Hartlepool, Oldham and shrews is vital. Winning 5 games will be difficult and also probably vital. Hartlepool, Oldham and Scunny are all capable of winning half of their games too.
Hartlepool are 8 points below us, so if we win 5 of our remaining matches, they must win 8 of theirs. The others are of course very close to us.
Also, of our remaining games, only one is against a top-7 team (Bournemouth).
Agreed it will be difficult to win another 5 games, but it is feasible.

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