COLCHESTER head coach Anthony O’Riordan will be hoping ill-discipline does not blight his side again this weekend.

Colchester went down to 13 men in their 22-10 National League division three London and South East defeat to Guernsey Raiders last weekend, as they picked up two overlapping yellow cards.

And they were punished in that period and it left O’Riordan deeply disappointed and frustrated.

The Mill Road side have another difficult fixture this weekend when they have to travel to second-placed London Irish Wild Geese.

Colchester lost 36-17 at home to this Saturday’s hosts in the second game of the season.

O’Riordan saw good things in last week’s performance against Guernsey but knows the lack of discipline must be addressed. He said: “We showed real promise and played the best we have played in quite a while.

“However, we went down to 13 men for about seven minutes, with two overlapping yellow cards.

“It was our fault, the referee was completely correct. It was a lack of discipline at the breakdown on our part.

“And at National Three level if you go down to 13 then you are writing your own death warrant.

“And Guernsey did what any good team would do and used it to their advantage and exploited the overlap.

“For the first 25 minutes we played well. Things are starting to come together. We went with a slightly different sqaud so we could try a few things out.

“And they were working until we shot ourselves in the foot.

“Every time we encroached into their 22 we gave away a penalty.

“As a coach it is disappointing because you see this group of lads making progress and then they throw it away.

“I think it was down to a desperation to win after a recent run of not winning.

“And that desperation led to ill discipline at the breakdown trying to claw back a win.

“But they are making progress, things are happening that we want to happen and I think the penny is starting to drop in certain areas.”

“We are not looking to get promoted this year. The aim is to stay in the division.

“We have had a tough run of games against sides in the top seven in the league. And in certain areas of the pitch we are beating them.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s game at London Irish Wild Geese O’Riordan said: “We still have some growing to do. We are at the halfway point of the season now and I anticipate a significant development in the style of our play.

“And I hope to do well in the next six weeks. Saying that we are a bit under the cosh this weekend with unavailabilites.

“But that is the nature of the game. The players are all volunteers and have work and family committments at this time of year.”