COLCHESTER United continued their resurgence under interim head coach Wayne Brown with an impressive 1-0 win at Leyton Orient.

Freddie Sears' fourth-minute strike proved the difference between the two sides at Brisbane Road, as the U's claimed a second successive away victory.

It was a hard-fought win for Colchester but they produced a fine all-round team display, to claim all three points in East London.

Colchester initially made four changes to their starting line-up for their game at Leyton Orient.

Brendan Wiredu, Luke Hannant, Tyreik Wright and Corie Andrews came into the side for Emyr Huws, Alan Judge, John Akinde and Owura Edwards, who was on the bench.

And the U’s had to make another alteration before kick-off, with Tom Dallison injured in the pre-match warm-up and Tommy Smith promoted to the starting XI.

Colchester goalkeeper Sam Hornby was forced into a fine third-minute save when he made a point-blank stop to deny Aaron Drinan’s header from a corner.

But seconds afterwards, the U’s broke away and took the lead.

Andrews picked up Myles Kenlock’s cross-field pass and found Freddie Sears, who clinically side-footed the ball first time into the centre of the net for his 13th goal of the season, following a swift U’s counter attack.

Colchester were the better side after that, looking dangerous on the break and generally sharper and quicker to the ball.

Nevertheless, chances were few and far between for both teams until late in the half.

Colchester were forced into a change just before half-time when Cole Skuse was forced off following a clash of heads with Jordan Brown and was replaced by Gene Kennedy.

And they almost doubled their lead in stoppage-time when Sears burst into the area and forced O’s goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux into a save, with Kennedy’s close-range follow up deflected off for a corner.

There was still time before the break for Andrews' left-foot strike to fly well wide, as Colchester went in at half-time ahead.

The second half followed a similar pattern but Orient came close to equalising just before the hour mark when Drinan's close-range header from Matt Young's cross flew straight into the arms of Hornby.

Colchester made a change soon after, sending on defender Miles Welch-Hayes at right-back for debutant Wright and pushing Junior Tchamadeu into a more attacking right-sided role.

It nearly paid immediate dividends when Hannant came agonisingly close to converting in the six-yard box from Sears' precise low cross, as the U's pushed for a second to give them some breathing space.

But at the other end, Hornby made a great save to deny Drinan after he had sprung the Colchester offside trap from Matt Young's pass, as the contest opened up.

Substitute Edwards almost wrapped up victory for Colchester in the 88th minute when he showed great skill and pace to beat his marker in the area before slotting in a shot which was pushed away by Vigouroux for a corner.

Seven minutes of stoppage-time were added at the end but Colchester were victorious.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Hornby, Tchamadeu, Eastman, Smith, Kenlock, Skuse (sub Kennedy, 44), Wiredu, Hannant, Andrews (sub Edwards, 80), Wright (sub Welch-Hayes, 63), Sears.

Subs (not used): Coxe, Lowe, Collins.

U’s man of the match: Freddie Sears.

Leyton Orient: Vigouroux, Ogie, Young, Beckles, Moss, Pratley, Drinan, Mitchell, Brown (sub Kyprianou, 44), Khan, Smith (sub Sotiriou, 79).

Subs (not used): Reilly, Happe, Sweeney, Ray, Byrne.

Referee: Tom Reeves.

Bookings: Colchester: Sears (dissent, 40), Welch-Hayes (foul, 84), Kennedy (foul, 90). Leyton Orient: Moss (foul, 49), Young (foul, 90).

Goals: Colchester: Sears (4).