SOMETHING to savour, at last, in Salford.

A likely undercard venue for some, football-infused Manchester proved the sweetest setting for a rejigged and rejuvenated Colchester United to deliver some overdue joy.

Is this a breakout win? Who knows; it certainly felt like one. Collector’s item, whatever. We've tasted league success only once in a previous ten tries and (including this) just thrice on the road over an entire season.

Something to shout about last weekend, through a final scores rolled-up newspaper: one result that's simply standalone headline news, all by itself.

An intense pre-match team huddle followed by mutual fist-pumping between players and supporters set the tone for what would make a wild ride and deserved scalp, here.

Little did we know that was simply a mere dress-rehearsal for more full-on scenes by teatime.

Tempo, tenacity and emerging triumphant; this away day was sent from soccer's wish Gods.

Watched on by actual household names, like Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Steve Bruce and also Babs, the famed catering lady, (who offered me a collapsible chair by the bar beforehand) Colchester were in esteemed company.

That's all-the-more reason to applaud a laudable lack of stage-fright here.

Gazette:

Ryan Clampin's cheeky tweet afterwards sums up the players' mood, as Wayne Brown begins another caretaker spell, following Hayden Mullins' still-fresh exit.

"Late promotion push?," he wrote. That's a rhetorical question for all swelled U's hearts to ponder with equal jest and jubilation.

Maybe the shackles are off, finally, in this so-far pretty repressive campaign. We can only hope.

You'd have to call odds of winning an actual title for real virtually impossible, even with basically half our fixtures still unplayed.

From the lowly doldrums of an all-but current basement placing in League Two, it looks very fanciful thinking. But at least we can dare to dream again now.

Our fleshy on-field interpretors morph back into the exalted gladiators we always secretly hoped they were. Heroes, just for one day.

Amid all the merriment of such a statement 3-0 result, coming as it has like a bolt from the blue, frankly, nobody really cared about standings, let alone climbing divisions; competing, going toe-to-toe and emerging victorious produced high-fives aplenty.

Gazette:

Winning seems like everything; it was, in many ways, the only thing.

Team-mates were too busy reconnecting with each other, exacting spark and determination, too busy being enthralled in latterly-missing match acts, to sweat on live stats or tables, or noisy neighbours doing better along the road, for once. Less flagging, more swagger from United.

Cutting analysis from boomerang boss Brown in interview later showed a clear dexterity of forethought and coaching; things decidedly oftentimes lacking in previous play patterns.

Perhaps the cold, hard reality of us living in a relegation mired cul-de-sac could soon be temporary.

We fans loved it, too, not just the squad. These are the moments we've each missed, during recent sterile weeks. Gallows humour gives way to optimism, coursing through Colchester United's blue and white veins.

Moments like a shirtless, euphoric Matt Baldwin by the supporters' coach, celebrating at full-time; an elated Lauren Baker, clutching Junior Tchamadeu's match-worn top, garnered as he especially pointed her out to have it, on the ref's last whistle.

And moments like for myself, capturing on camera the exact seconds when returning stopper Shamal George, back from a lengthy two-month injury lay-off, embraced his Mum while confirming the points. He was excellent.

A nearby Salford steward jived for us too, in the standing away end where a knot of our most vocal U's fans amassed. They jumped around in intoxication, yell-signing; "He's got a bin liner, on his head!" V

Very soon in unison, it brought us smiles, him strutting back, unleashing his comic, inner showman for the gathered gallery.

From the toes and feet of our men on the ball, to each loyal fan belting out familiar chorus, springs a beautiful synergy, energy and connection. Breakout win? Sure; why not, this bird has flown.

Colchester United are free, once more.

* This column is dedicated in Loving Memory to Kelly Williams, AKA 'The Ref", 10th August, 1982--28th October, 2021.