Karl Duguid openly admits he is not the apple of the Layer Road fans' eyes.

But the big-hearted striker was undoubtedly the darling of his team-mates and the small but loyal band of travelling Colchester supporters as he produced one of the finest all-round performances by a U's player for many a season to see off promotion-chasing Walsall at the rain drenched Bescot Stadium.

Here, there and everywhere, the hyperactive Duguid constantly frustrated the home side.

Whether as an attacker in and around the penalty area, where he ran the home defenders ragged, or helping out at the back where he did his fair share of defending and in midfield where he was always on hand to keep the attacks moving.

The only thing missing from his repertoire was a goal and only his poorest touch of the day, combined with the quick thinking of Saddlers keeper James Walker, prevented the industrious Duguid from rounding off his top-class display.

He did, however, have a big hand in setting up Barry Conlon's winning goal.

The U's were made to wait 56 minutes for it, but when the goal came it was a real peach of a header.

Duguid laid a super ball out to Joe Dunne on the right. The wing-back swung over an inch perfect cross into the Walsall penalty box where Conlon, some eight to ten yards out, rose above his marker to give Walker no chance with a powerfully directed header just inside the keeper's right-hand post.

But this win wasn't just about Duguid - it was about 12 other U's heroes who all played out of their skins to put last Wednesday's lacklustre home defeat at the hands of Port Vale behind them.

Andy Woodman was magnificent in goal.

Dunne, Alan White - in for the injured David Gregory - Ross Johnson and stand-in skipper Scott Fitzgerald walked superbly tall at the back.

Gavin Johnson, Aaron Skelton, Joe Keith and Mick Stockwell all competed like lions in the middle of the park.

And substitutes Scott McGleish and Steve McGavin both played their small parts, while hard working target man Conlon capped a truly great day with the brilliantly taken all-important winning goal.

Shell-shocked and stung into action by criticism of their performance three days earlier against Port Vale, the U's meant business right from the start.

It was Conlon who started the U's roller-coaster moving with another powerful goalbound header, plucked from under the bar by Walker only seven minutes into the game.

And although Walsall, looking to ward off their third successive home defeat, enjoyed their fair share of the ball, they found their way barred by the U's unbreachable brick wall.

Woodman made the first of his many fine saves when turning behind a strong tenth-minute header from Ian Roper and did even better 17 minutes later when acrobatically tipping over a fierce 25-yard drive from Andy Tillson.

The U's immediately responded and a great surging run from Duguid, starting deep in his own half, was only ended when he was adjudged to have fouled in the Walsall penalty box.

Gavin Johnson then had a lob pulled out of the air by Walker and Duguid was extremely unlucky when his first-time shot on the turn, following a superb build-up move from Stockwell and Keith on the left, whistled agonisingly wide.

Woodman then came to the rescue again with a brave save at the feet of Saddlers top scorer Jorge Leitao on the stroke of half-time.

The second half started as the first period finished with action in both goalmouths.

Duguid twice threatened danger in the Walsall area, while Dunne pulled out a magnificent interception to prevent Leitao at the far post minutes before moving upfield to set up Conlon's great goal.

Conlon was injured in a collision with Walker minutes later and had to be replaced by McGleish while Saddlers boss Ray Graydon rang the changes by introducing all three of his substitutes - including the dangerous giant striker Brett Angell - to set-up a nerve-jangling finale.

In the 86th minute, Hungarian international Gabor Bukran carved open the defence only for Leitao to screw his shot wide.

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