MATTY Etherington got off to a winning start as Colchester United's interim boss after guiding them to a 3-2 victory at Grimsby Town.

The U's halted a run of four successive league defeats after securing a much-needed win, following an entertaining contest at Blundell Park.

It was the perfect tonic for Colchester, in what was their first game following the dismissal of Ben Garner on Saturday night.

Arthur Read, back from suspension, inspired the U's win, scoring their winner and providing the assist for their other two goals.

Etherington made two changes to the U’s starting line-up for the game at Grimsby.

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Arthur Read returned after serving a three-match ban and Samson Tovide started after missing out on the Harrogate Town defeat with a back spasm, with Noah Chilvers and Bradley Ihionvien dropping to the bench.

Colchester lined up in what was effectively a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Read as the holding midfielder and Tovide occupying a position on the left flank.

The game started in frantic fashion, with Grimsby having penalty appeals turned down early on when Donovan Wilson’s strike appeared to be handled in the box by U’s defender, Zach Mitchell.

But the U’s fell behind in bizarre fashion, in the seventh minute.

Will Greenidge’s well-hit back-pass from distance bounced up in front of Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman, who headed the ball up in the air, before it squirmed into the net for a comical own goal.

It was the worst possible start for Colchester but they needed less than four minutes to get back into the contest.

Joe Taylor finished clinically from inside the area with a low strike, after being picked out by Read in the area.

It was the on-loan Luton Town striker’s seventh goal of the season for the U’s.

The game continued at a high tempo and Goodman was called upon to make a fine save to push Gavan Holohan’s low drive around the post, after being set up by Kamil Conteh.

And at the other end, Chay Cooper dragged a low shot wide after being found in space by Mandela Egbo's short pass.

Colchester went ahead in the 35th minute when Read’s corner inexplicably evaded Grimsby goalkeeper Jake Eastwood in the six-yard box and struck Zach Mitchell before sailing into the net, for the teenage defender's first senior goal.

The U’s looked the more likely side to score the game’s next goal before half-time and in stoppage-time at the end of the half, Cooper's powerful strike was pushed up into the air by Eastwood, after Fevrier had menaced the Grimsby defence again.

Colchester went in at the break ahead but the hosts almost equalised four minutes after half-time when Goodman made a superb diving save to push away Danny Rose's goalbound close-range header.

And Grimsby were back on level terms in the 49th minute thanks to Donovan Wilson's sweet low finish, after Conteh had done well to pick him out in the U's box.

Colchester were almost behind soon after when Danny Rose's curled effort was pushed away by Goodman, as the hosts began to turn the screw.

But the game turned in the U's favour again in the 65th minute when Read advanced towards goal and let fly from 20 yards with a shot that took a big deflection before flying into the net.

Danny Amos blasted a good chance over at the near post for the hosts while at the other end, Tovide scooped a good chance over from inside the six-yard box after a rapid break by Colchester.

Goodman did well to hold onto to Abo Eisa's powerful low strike but Colchester held on to claim a much-needed win.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Goodman, Greenidge, Mitchell (sub Dallison, 57), Hall, Egbo, McGeehan, Read, Cooper (sub Mingi, 57), Fevrier, Tovide (sub Chilvers, 76), Taylor (sub Hopper, 86).

Substitutes (not used): Jay, Ihionvien, Hornby.

Grimsby Town: Eastwood, Efete, Rodgers, Mullarkey (sub Green, 46), Maher, Amos, Holohan (sub Andrews, 37), Conteh (sub Gnahoua, 89), Eisa, Wilson, Rose.

Substitutes (not used): Cartwright, Waterfall, Pyke, Khan.

Goals: Colchester: Taylor (10), Mitchell (35), Read (65). Grimsby: Goodman (own goal, 7), Wilson (49).

Bookings: Colchester: Mitchell (foul, 22), Dallison (foul, 60), Egbo (foul, 66), Huzzey (unsporting behaviour, 74), Grimsby: Andrews (foul, 39).

U's man of the match: Arthur Read.

Referee: James Oldham.

Attendance: 5,010 (148 U's fans).