Guthrie’s treble has Colchester looking up
JOHN MCGREAL hailed his hat-trick hero Kurtis Guthrie after the striker helped in-form Colchester United thrash Carlisle United to chalk up a fifth successive win and move into the League Two play-off places.
Guthrie bagged his first Football League treble and Chris Porter also netted as the inform U’s extended their unbeaten run to eight matches.
Colchester boss McGreal said: “It was great to see Kurtis score his hat-trick; he could have had it a bit earlier but it was great for him.
“Kurtis can adapt – he has an opportunity to play in the Football League and he’s taking it.
“We don’t really want to get above ourselves as we’ve moved such a big distance in such a short space of time. We have to stay focused and there are still 20-odd games left to go.
“But as long as we keep working hard on the training pitch, applying ourselves in the right way and developing good habits, we’ll have a good go.”
Carlisle boss Keith Curle was disappointed with aspects of his side’s display, saying: “There were some basics that we didn’t do well. We didn’t stop the balls going into our box and some of our decision-making at times was poor.
“The defensive record is definitely a concern to me and the amount of goals we’ve conceded in the games we’ve played is diabolical.
“If you take chances, it does change the game. Jason Kennedy had a great chance seven yards out but doesn’t hit the target and blazes it over.
“Jason has been absolutely fantastic for us though and is getting in good areas, but if that goes in it can change the balance of the game.”
Chris Porter headed in Brennan Dickenson’s cross from six yards to give Colchester an 11th-minute lead.
But Carlisle equalised in the 28th minute through Shaun Brisley, whose looping header from Macauley Gillesphey’s cross sailed in.
Colchester restored their lead five minutes later when Guthrie curled in a superb shot from the edge of the area after Craig Slater’s cross had caused confusion in the box.
And Colchester went 3-1 up five minutes after the break when Guthrie blasted home after Porter had dummied Slater’s delivery.
Guthrie hit the bar before completing his hat-trick in stoppage time, converting after Gillespie had denied Denny Johnstone to seal Colchester’s impressive win