5th October 2024
Colchester United vs Carlisle United @ Colchester Community Stadium
EFL League Two
15:00 KO
£22.50 (includes complimentary programme)
Attendance – 4,392 (352 away fans)
Half-time score: Colchester United 0-0 Carlisle United
Brief match highlights are on YouTube, see link below:
Final Score: Colchester United 0-0 Carlisle United
Somehow, today’s home game at Colchester United marks my first U’s league game of the 24/25 season. With the focus on Thetford Town’s push for promotion, and my self-imposed mission to complete the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, opportunities have been few and far between, coupled with the fact that most away games this season are way up in the North West of England. Col U’s form so far has not been as good as fans were hoping for, we are still struggling to win, having only won 2 from 9, but at least losses are also becoming more infrequent, if the U's can convert the draws to wins hopefully they can begin to get some momentum and push up the table. Col U have been a poor team for quite a few years, so stopping the rot and turning around the fortunes is not a simple or quick task, but I fully back the Cowley’s to get the job done.
Today’s visitors were Carlisle United, the furthest team to North Essex, so fair play to all the fans who made the long trip down, and a decent amount to be fair! Carlisle are a struggling team, sitting just above the relegation zone in 22nd, but with a new manager in place and Charlie Wyke the main goal-threat, they certainly posed a risk. Despite this, this remained an important game and big chance for Col U to secure 3-points building on their away point at Port Vale, but if the last few years have taught me anything, Col U really struggle in these types of games. With the atmosphere at Col U ramped up a notch, the fans were doing their bit to psych up the lads and make our home ground a fortress. The U's fans are definitely up there as most underrated fanbase in the country, S1 makes some of the best and loudest noise I've ever heard in a football ground, especially when the U's get the crowd going!
Today's complementary programme had Ellis Iandolo on the front cover, with the mid-page poster an image of striker Lyle Taylor sporting a pink hairdo for breast cancer awareness, great effort from the frontman. The programme did feel a bit more flimsy than those from last season, but content still great, it is free and I'm proud Col U keep the printed match day programme going so can't really complain.
It was a beautifully sunny autumnal afternoon, too warm for my Col U scarf so that came off sharpish. Before the game Colchester based Olympic bronze medal winning boxer Lewis Richardson walked around the ground parading his medal, he boxed brilliantly in Paris and it was great to see him proudly walking around the ground to great applause. The Col U flag show was in fine form and into the cacophony of noise, Col U came out in their famous blue and white stripes with Carlisle United in a contemporary mint green and mauve kit.
KEY MOMENTS
CU = Colchester United
CA = Carlisle United
7’ - CU - Ball up to Taylor, he takes control and passes back to Read who immediately pings a ball down the left to set Tovide free, he beats Harry Lewis to the ball and tries to squeeze it in, but bends it wide of the post.
11' - CA - Vela breaks through the Col U defense, is through 1-on-1, keeper Macey stands his ground and gets down well to his left to prevent a near certain goal.
38' - CU - Tovide attacks from the left, he hooks the ball back to Payne on the edge of the box whose first time effort is screwed wide.
55' - CU - Payne picks up the ball, drops his shoulder and strides forwards before cracking in a bullet of a strike from 20yrds, it is heading into the top left corner, but tipped away to safety by the diving Harry Lewis.
66' - CU - Referee absolutely bottles it, Mellish, already on a yellow, yanks back Taylor as he breaks, looked a dead-set yellow to me. Instead he just had a chat with him.....He is hooked off shortly after.
67' - CU - A recycled ball finds Taylor in the box, his first time effort on the volley is kept down but it is slightly too close to Harry Lewis who makes the save.
68' - CU - Taylor intercepts the ball, he runs through on goal but it chased down, he sees the run of Payne and threads him through, on the left he twists and turns the defender and the keeper, the goalmouth is begging for a cross goal strike but he tries to be too cute and hits the ball towards the near-post but misses the target, huge moment!
70' - CA - Carlisle break, it looks dangerous and Charlie Wyke is about to shoot, but Iandolo flies in off the wing and makes a well timed and well judged sliding tackle.
84' - CU - Read hits a first touch screamer from 20yrds with the outside of the boot, it is hit perfectly and zipping in, but Harry Lewis makes an unbelievable save.
Definitely two-points dropped by Col U, the first half was dire and I have no idea why Hopper was playing on the wing, but the 2nd half was much better and they did enough to secure the win were it not for a series of fine saves from Harry Lewis. Carlisle should also have gone down to 10-men, referee bottled it with 24 minutes still on the clock plus stoppage time, poor officiating and the Carlisle manager knew this, he could not have taken Mellish off any faster. Winger John-Kymani Gordon changed the game for the U's when he came on providing some much needed speed and physicality down the left, linking up brilliantly with Ellis Iandolo. I was also impressed with Lyle Taylor who held the ball up well and pressurised the Carlisle back-line all game, he deserved a goal for sure and I think he will be a key player for us as the season progresses. I also though substitute Jamie McDonnell had a great cameo, adding some strength and tenacity in the middle of the park that was lacking at times. Two wins from 10 games is clearly not great, but I feel like Col U are only 5% away from being a force in this league, I hope this happens soon so they can start to put in a bid for the play-offs before it is too late, UP THE U's!!!
Line-Ups:
COLCHESTER UNITED: Matt Macey, Rob Hunt, Mandela Egbo, Tom Flanagan (C), Ellis Iandolo, Jack Payne, Alex Woodyard, Arthur Read, Tom Hopper, Lyle Taylor, Samson Tovide. SUBS: Fiacre Kelleher, John-Kymani Gordon, Jamie McDonnell, Harry Anderson, Tom Smith, Anthony Scully, Aaron Donnelly.
CARLISLE UNITED: Harry Lewis, Jon Mellish, Terell Thomas, Sam Lavelle, Cameron Harper, Harrison Biggins, Harrison Neal, Archie Davies, Luke Armstrong, Charlie Wyke (C), Josh Vela. SUBS: Jack Robinson, Dominic Sadi, Ben Barclay, Gabe Breeze, Jack Ellis, Anton Dudik, Freddie O'Donoghue.
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