HOW to put into words the extreme relief that I now feel following those back to back wins? I would not say it feels joyful, more like a huge release of pressure.

Thankfully now, baring a shed load of fluke results over the next few weeks, the U’s will be playing League Two football next season.

Unless of course, a few misguided and poorly run European football clubs think it would be a good idea to carry on with this whole ESL rubbish by now inviting us up to their table laden with gold.

Time to get back to the proper football. The U’s football we have all spent our lives following and supporting.

Fair to say that Tuesday night would have been a memorable occasion for the U’s fans if we had been allowed.

Two first half goals right in front of a packed South Stand and then just complete and utter support for the control we had over the second half.

The U’s weren’t exactly rubbing it in, but boy were they enjoying their moment on the pitch.

To a man, over the Walsall and Southend games, each and every player busted a gut for the team and for the result.

It was the way I love to see the U’s play. Just a pity that it had been hiding from us for large parts of the season.

The U’s targeted these two games as the key drivers to their survival. SIx points at home, when wins had been so hard to find, would be a massive achievement so they had to focus and deliver.

And Messrs Mullins and Tisdale certainly delivered for our chairman, because they got the players in completely the right frame of mind to get the job done.

There was much to take away from these two games I think. Our back four tightened up brilliantly, so much so that Shamal George was very well protected.

I would be very surprised if he lets go of the U’s gloves for quite some time.

Brendan Wiredu proved yet again that he was one of smartest acquisitions that the U’s have made in recent years.

Harry Pell can really play like a devil and be a colossal thorn in the back side of any opposition team with his work rate and physicality. Quite clear that Southend simply could not deal with it.

Michael Folivi also showed what he can do as a centre forward rather than a wide man.

Many a good striker will tell you that the vast majority of their goals come from inside the six-yard box. Right place, right time and that’s exactly what he gave us with his two crucial goals.

And finally, Ryan Clampin, who is already firmly within the “my type of player” bracket for next season and beyond.

The list of player contributions could go on and on. Admittedly the two oppositions weren’t top of the table sides, but when you can’t win a game for toffee, any opponent on the pitch over 90 minutes is difficult. So in my view all credit to Hayden, and Paul, and all of the players.

Next up is Cheltenham away, for which I would not be surprised if one or two of the unused subs from Tuesday might step up, following which I hope that the U’s would be 100 per cent secure.

Then we host Salford City, who I would really love to take three points from.

Briefly back to the ill-fated and ill-conceived ESL that has shocked the football core this week.

Plenty has already been said on the subject but the key quote for me was from Real Madrid who said it was needed to “save football” because the young were no longer interested.

Firstly, let’s get him along to the East Stand Family Enclosure when it’s full of kids screaming for Frank Nouble, and secondly, I think it was more about “saving” several football clubs who are brimming with colossal debt that they cannot afford to repay.

Anyway, it is nice to be able to write on a more positive theme this week. Hope that also continues into next week, and I also hope that it will not be long before Colchester United are back in blue and white stripes again permanently. Up the U’s!