COLCHESTER United boss Wayne Brown praised match-winner Tom Eastman following the defender's last-gasp winner against Bradford City.

Eastman headed home Noah Chilvers' free-kick at the far post in the seventh minute of time added on to give the U's a 1-0 victory over the Bantams, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The goal sparked jubilant scenes in the stadium, after securing Colchester's first league win of the season.

Eastman marked his 400th league appearance for the U's with the all-important winner and head coach Brown had nothing but praise for the long-serving centre-back.

Brown said: “What a way to top his 400th league game for Colchester off, by scoring the winner.

“It’s a massive, massive effort from Tom.

“They say that loyalty is not there in the game anymore these days but that proves to everyone that it is.

“He’s been a fantastic servant for the club."

Gazette:

Colchester claimed victory following an entertaining contest that ebbed and flowed and was a great advert for League Two.

Both sides had come close to scoring prior to Eastman's winner, with Frank Nouble hitting the crossbar in the first half and U's keeper Sam Hornby denying Kian Harratt.

And even after Eastman had scored, the Bantams came desperately close to equalising when substitute Andy Cook's effort rattled a post, in the final seconds.

Nevertheless, U's boss Brown felt his side were worthy of their dramatic win.

“I think we fully deserved the victory tonight against what is a very good team," said Brown.

“Any goal is important but the timing of the goal with a minute left of the seven that were added in injury time, it’s always nice getting the winner that late on.

“We hit the bar, we had one cleared off the line, we had two cutbacks from probably ten yards which both hit the target and one that didn’t hit the target from ten yards.

Gazette:

“What pleased me tonight more than anything was it showed the little bit of detail that we put into them yesterday.

"It was a quick turnaround from Saturday's game (at Stockport County).

"We wanted to take the game to Bradford.

"Saturday was a totally different fixture, against a totally different team.

"We had an opportunity at home and I think the surface makes a massive difference, with it being slick and not so dry.

"It makes the ball get to its destination a lot quicker."