FOUR-SOME U’S BASH UP BORO
COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal says his players are doing the club proud after they thumped Stevenage to close in on the play-off places.
The U’s are just two points adrift of the top seven after sweeping aside fellow promotion-hopefuls Stevenage, following an electric first-half display.
Brennan Dickenson and Chris Porter put Colchester two goals ahead, before own goals from Boro pair Josh McQuoid and Charlie Lee gave the hosts a four-goal lead at the break.
And although the second half failed to produce any further goals, the U’s were big winners.
McGreal said: “We’ve got something to play for and we’ve kept ourselves in it.
“With the injuries we’ve had and what’s gone on through the season, the boys have done us proud and we have a great chance.
“I thought the lads were fantastic.
“We did a lot of homework on Stevenage, especially after losing at Notts County.
“Stevenage have been terrific with some of the results and performances that they’ve been putting together and we knew it was going to be a tough game.
“We needed to start well and that gave us the platform to go on.”
Stevenage now have a fivepoint cushion inside the top seven, after falling to their first defeat in four matches.
Boro boss Darren Sarll said: “The players have had great praise over the last couple of months and we’ve conceded one goal in the whole of March and now we’ve conceded four times in one game in April.
“We can’t stand here and say that as a club, we’re going to accept that.
“The players’ form of late gives them a little bit of breathing space, in terms of criticism, but it does make us come back down to earth and think like normal people again.
“Hopefully, it’ll be the fire and motivation that drives us on for the remaining five games of the season.”
Colchester wing-back Richard Brindley hit the woodwork before the hosts took an 11th-minute lead through Dickenson, who lashed home after Drey Wright had helped on Tarique Fosu’s cross.
Stevenage’s Matt Godden was denied by a fine double save from keeper Sam Walker, before the U's doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark through Porter’s close-range strike, seconds after George Elokobi’s header had hit a post.
Colchester went further ahead in the 33rd minute through McQuoid’s own goal, after Tom Eastman had helped on Sean Murray’s corner.
And when Lee headed Fosu’s cross into his own net seven minutes before half-time, Stevenage were shell-shocked.
Walker denied Jobi McAnuff and Jack King stabbed wide in the second half for Stevenage, but Colchester recorded an emphatic win as they produced a memorable performance to take the points.