by BRIAN WALLER

UNDER-23

COLCHESTER UNITED 2

CARDIFF CITY 1

DESPITE dominating the first half, Colchester trailed at the break to a goal by Cardiff right-back Ryan Pryce.

However, they fought back well after the interval to record their first league win for several weeks, thanks to goals from Louis Dunne and Tyrique Hyde.

The U’s began well as, in just the first minute, Ryan Gondoh made a superb 50-yard run through the middle before being tackled on the edge of the box.

On ten minutes, a corner from Dunne found Dean Ager on the left edge of the box but his shot went just wide of the far post.

As the home team kept on top, a poor ball out by the away defence saw a one-two between Ryan Clampin and Dunne.

However, the former’s effort curled just over the bar.

Halfway through the half, Gondoh went off with an injury and was replaced by Ollie Sims.

After a double foul by Diaz Wright, which saw him booked, the away side took the lead as the free-kick in saw the bałl run out to the left.

From a high ball into the box, home keeper Callum Coulter seemed to be impeded as he went for the ball.

As he fell to the ground, the ball ran to right-back Pryce, who drove his shot into the net.

With no foul given, it meant the away side had taken the lead against the run of play.

As Colchester tried to hit back, Sims and Clampin linked to set up Callum Jones.

On the turn, he got his left-foot effort away, which keeper Warren Burwood saved superbly to his right.

Trailing at the break, the home team hit back soon after half-time.

After good work by Dean Ager and Jones on the right, the latter fed the ball to Dunne, in space on the left, and he netted with a low cross-shot.

Four minutes later, the U’s went close again after a surging run by Wright.

He found Miller on his right but he was denied as Burwood made a superb tip-over save, touching the ball over the bar.

The referee failed to credit the keeper’s effort and awarded a goal-kick.

The visitors had not really created much as their best effort came which saw Jack McKay head a left-wing corner wide.

Colchester then struck back with their winning goal as right-back Richard Backary got away down the right.

From his cross, a powerful header by Hyde went into the net, probably diverting in off City defender Ben Margetson.

Cardiff needed to respond and, after good work on the left between sub Will Warnock and Sion Spense, a header by Laurence Wooton was safely into the arms of keeper Coulter.

However, this was a rare moment of worry for the U’s as they went on to record a rare victory.

Colchester United: Callum Coulter, Richard Bakary, Ollie Kensdale, David Agboola, Ryan Clampin, Diaz Wright, Todd Miller, Ryan Gondoh, Dean Ager, Louis Dunne and Callum Jones.

Used subs: Ollie Sims, Tyrique Hyde and Ken Charles.

Unused subs: Ted Collins and Chris Forino