Colchester United boosted League Two survival bid with win

But while Leyton Orient's stoppage-time equaliser a few days earlier had been a kick in the teeth, the U's winner against Port Vale felt so, so sweet - particularly as it had been three and a half months since the last home win.

With only minutes of their game against Vale remaining, it looked very much like Colchester were about to sink into the League Two relegation zone.

Then up popped unlikely hero Tom Dallison.

The U's centre-back headed in his maiden goal for the club - and his first competitive goal for more than a year - from Noah Chilvers' corner in the 85th minute to secure his side a massive win.

This was not the greatest match in the world.

It will not live long in the memory and in truth, entertainment was in short supply.

But what the U's display might at times have lacked in quality, it more than made up for with tenacity, desire and determination.

Make no mistake, this was a win based around hard work, discipline and organisation.

In his pre-match interviews, Wayne Brown spoke about the need for his side to eradicate mistakes and the U's interim head coach got his wish.

And while Colchester were probably not seen as much as an attacking force as much as they ideally would have like, they nevertheless stayed in the game.

The win was the most important thing for the U's.

But the second most important thing after that was the clean sheet.

It was Colchester's first at home since October and was testament to an organised performance, particularly from the back four.

Brown's tactics against play-off chasing Vale side deserve credit, as do the players for their overall endeavour and hard work.

The U's dealt competently with the visitors' system 3-4-3 system and restricted a side who had arrived in North Essex on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run to few chances.

And when those opportunities did materialise, the hosts' defending was up to scratch - and they arguably saved the best of their day's work until last.

They say the sign of a good goalkeeper is one who keeps concentration levels high until the very end and that was certainly true of Shamal George.

The Colchester shot-stopper made a breathtaking save to deny substitute Jamie Proctor, a crucial moment in the match and possibly, his club's season.

At the other end, it was a defender who was the goalscoring hero for Colchester, with Dallison coming up with the crucial winner.

It is encouraging that the U's have found the net in all but one of Brown's 11 games in interim charge.

Indeed, goals have come from all over the pitch.

And while Freddie Sears has been effective for his team, the fact that the U's leading scorer has not scored in his last seven games reinforces the trend for others in the team to chip in with goals.

So arguably the hardest game of Colchester's four-game home sequence ended with a welcome win.

Of course, the return of five points from a possible 12 in those games could have been better but it also could have been worse - only Leyton Orient's stoppage-time equaliser prevented that tally from being more productive.

The U's are unbeaten in three and head to bottom club Scunthorpe United this weekend with a chance to extend that run and give themselves more breathing space, away from the relegation zone.

One swallow does not make a summer and there is still plenty of work for Colchester to do in their remaining 11 games to confirm their Football League status.

But their win over Port Vale was most welcome and the disciplined nature of the performance bodes well for some tough games ahead.