DERRY’S IN A SWEAT OVER UCHE
CAMBRIDGE United striker Uche Ikpeazu scored the goal that beat Colchester in a closely-fought encounter at the Cambs Glass Stadium – then left his manager Shaun Derry soaking wet.
Ikpeazu drove a powerful shot into the bottom corner in the 64th minute to give the U’s a deserved lead, then raced over to the dug-out to give his boss a “sweaty” hug.
Derry revealed afterwards that a conversation between the pair at half-time had paid dividends.
“The teams cancelled each other out in the first half, but we opened it up after half-time and looked a really good football team,” Derry said.
“I thought the goal came for the right team at the right time, and also for the right player because Uche was knocking on the door throughout.
“We had a little chat about his touch at half-time, and when he had the opportunity to drive into the box he took it. That’s what the celebration was about, and I’m wet through now thanks to Uche’s sweat.
“He’s got a lot of ability and can be anything he wants to be in football. It’s my job to get the best out of him.”
Cambridge could have been behind after three minutes were it not for alert goalkeeping from David Forde, who raced off his line to deny Kyel Reid.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the half, with a Sean Murray deflected shot rolling just wide for Colchester while Cambridge pair Medy Elito and Ade Azeez went close with headers.
The home side upped the tempo after the break, taking advantage of gaps on the Colchester left flank, with Jevani Brown and Brad Halliday linking up regularly with some success.
Cambridge substitutes Piero Mingoia and Jabo Ibehre both had a positive impact, and it was Ibehre who played in Ikpeazu for the winner.
Colchester could have snatched a point through Mikael Mandron or Sanmi Odelusi late on, but manager John McGreal was left to reflect on what might have been.
He said: “We knew it would be a competitive game here and it was tight throughout.
“But the influence of Jabo Ibehre coming on really made a difference. He roughed up our back four, and that’s what League Two is all about.
“We knew the ball would come in from different angles and we dealt with it well in the first half, but we weren’t able to cope when they made the changes.
“We huffed and puffed late on and had a couple of good chances, but at the moment we’re not making the most of the key moments in the opposition’s box. “That’s the story of our season so far.”