WHEN Colchester United's triumphant players returned to the visitors changing room at Glanford Park following their 3-1 victory over Scunthorpe United, their boss Wayne Brown had a simple but telling message for them.
"I said to the lads 'don't forget where you were about ten days ago against Orient, where we've conceded a 93rd-minute equaliser'," the U's interim head coach told his team.
"The lads were on the floor after that and for them that to pick themselves up and play like they did against Port Vale and to come to a tough place like this and win, full credit to them."
It is less than a fortnight since Colchester conceded a gut-wrenching late, late goal to draw 2-2 with Leyton Orient on that rain-sodden night at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Yet it somehow seems like a lifetime ago.
It was a painful moment for the U's in a pivotal game which they needed to win, against one of their relegation rivals.
The draw felt more like a defeat for Colchester's players afterwards but they deserve credit for showing the character to respond to that setback so well, with back-to-back wins.
The U's followed up their 1-0 victory over Port Vale with another important win at Scunthorpe - but it was not always comfortable.
Colchester had fallen behind early on but created chances throughout and were given a helping hand when Luke Matheson was sent off for two bookable offences, ten minutes before the break.
It helped the U's cause but Brown deserves credit for making the changes he did, when he did, sending on John Akinde and Tyreik Wright early in the second half with his team still trailing.
They made a difference and after Noah Chilvers' breathless run culminated in a fine equaliser, they did not look back.
Owura Edwards (pictured below) quickly fired them in front before the outstanding Chilvers headed home a third, for the U's.
This was not a perfect performance for the U's by any means and the fact that Scunthorpe twice struck the woodwork in the closing stages says much about the open nature of the contest, particularly in the closing stages.
But the win was the most important thing, as it is in any game at this stage of the season.
Colchester look capable of scoring in every game - they have only failed to hit the net once in Brown's 12 games in charge - and have now won three of their five away games under his management.
After claiming eight points from a possible 12, they lie eight points above the relegation zone, although teams below them have games in hand.
They are gathering some momentum after registering back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
The U's gained points on the teams in and around them at the weekend and although there is still a long way to go, with more twists and turns along the way, they are looking in a healthier position that they did only a few days ago.
There are some tough tests ahead, for Colchester.
They travel to in-form Bristol Rovers tomorrow night and after that, face equally challenging games against two other promotion-chasing teams in Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere Rovers.
But the U's will go into those matches with confidence and the character displayed in recent matches bodes well for the remaining ten matches of the season.
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