WAYNE Brown praised the efforts of his Colchester United players after they finished the League Two season on a winning note.

The U's won 2-0 at Hartlepool United in their final game of the season to claim a second successive away victory and make it ten points from a possible 12, in their final four games.

Colchester have finished 15th in the table, an impressive achievement given they were three points above the drop zone when Brown took interim charge.

Goals from John Akinde and substitute Chay Cooper secured the U's victory at Victoria Park, much to Brown's delight.

Brown said: “It’s been a long hard season.

“It’s been a tough season in many respects but an enjoyable season and it’s always nice to finish the season on a high.

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“I think that puts us 15th in the table, so a real good effort from the boys since we’ve come in to climb the table and to have got as many points as we have done.

"It's been a real good effort away from home.

"There's been a real good contribution, from the lads.

"It tells you a lot about the group, to come to difficult places like Hartlepool just to mention one of many this season and plied our trade really, really well.

"Not only that but we looked reasonably solid, in a shape that we've stuck with for the last few weeks.

"We could have probably scored more.

"There were three debuts and one debut goal - a good day at the office.

"We know that they (Hartlepool) play and the surface isn't really conducive for playing good football.

"It's quite poor in areas, so we knew that we could set traps and triggers at times for solid shape and that proved the case.

"If we had a little bit more quality with that final ball into the strikers on the regain, we could have possibly got more - we looked dangerous, in that respect."

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Akinde gave Colchester the perfect start, scoring in the ninth minute.

It was the experienced striker's second goal in three games, on his first Colchester start since March.

"I'm chuffed to bits for him, because his attitude and professionalism around the environment has been spot on," said Brown.

"I'm all about people earning the right and people getting the opportunity when it's deserved.

"Since John has been in the environment, he's been first class.

"It's been a frustrating period for him and he's had a lot of setbacks.

"His form is probably not where it could have been sometimes but I think that was obviously contributed by illness.

"He came on and had a real big impact last week and he warranted a start.

"When you start hitting a bit of form and scoring a couple of goals, you want the season to be extended."

 

Cooper sealed Colchester's win with a stunning long-range strike, just after half-time.

The former Spurs youngster came off the bench at the break to enjoy a day he will not forget in a hurry, after scoring on his league debut.

"He does it in training on a regular basis.

"I think if anyone has been in 23 fixtures and seen Chay play before, he's a natural goalscorer when he gets in those positions.

"To do it on a stage like this is credit to him.

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"It's always nice giving individuals opportunity.

"It's on merit and it's not just a fixture where we're away from home, downing tools, last game of the season and we give people run outs.

"They've earned the right to be on the bus, they've earned the right to get on the pitch and when they've been on the pitch, they've not let us down.

"This is a day that the kid's going to remember for the rest of his life.

"Not only did he score a goal; he contributed to a solid shape, to a work ethic and that's what we've tried to install in the club and it shows in the 23s, when they come up to our environment that that's what we expect and nothing else."