A Senior moment gives U’s the points

COLCHESTER boss John McGreal praised his side’s resilience as they secured a battling win at Morecambe.

A 45th-minute goal from Courtney Senior was enough to give United back-to-back wins, but McGreal admitted his side had to show great spirit to overcome Morecambe’s second-half showing.

McGreal said: “I thought we were much the better team in the first half, we passed the ball well and got into good positions and we scored a great goal.

“The second half was a totally different affair as Morecambe were a different animal and put us under all sorts of pressure. It was backs to the wall stuff for us and we were hanging on, but I have to give the lads credit for the way they defended.

“They really put their bodies on the line and we had a few cool heads to see the game out.”

Harry Pell headed wide early on, before firing a tame shot straight at Shrimps keeper Barry Roche.

Ryan Jackson drilled a shot over from a tight angle, before the visitors took the lead with a well-worked goal through Senior. He ran at the Shrimps’ defence and shared a one-two with Luke Norris, before slotting the ball under Roche.

After a sterile first half, the second period saw much more goalmouth action with the hosts dominating possession.

They were denied what looked a clear penalty for handball after a goalmouth scramble at the far post, but the closest they came to a goal was when Vadaine Oliver hit the bar from close range.

Aaron Wildig’s poor cross when Kevin Ellison and Oliver were free at the far post proved costly and despite Morecambe’s relentless pressure, Colchester held on.

Home boss Jim Bentley was frustrated his side were left empty-handed. He said: “Like a lot of games this season we have played some great football, but not got anything from it.

“We gave a goal way late in the half and that is something that is killing us.

“We need to do better in those periods without a doubt but apart from that it is really hard for me to be critical of my team.

“I thought we gave it a good go in the second half and we couldn’t do much more than we did.”