McGreal hails his Cobblers conquerors
NORTHAMPTON T 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Cornell 4, Goode 4, Taylor 4, Pierre 4, Facey 4, S McWilliams 5, O’Toole 4 (Powell 56, 5), Bridge 5, Elsnik 4, Sordell 5 (A Williams 65, 5), Morias 4. Subs not used: Buchanan, Bowditch, Coddington, J Williams.
COLCHESTER U 4
Nouble 25, Eisa 50, Vincent-Young 53, Szmodics 67
COLCHESTER: Gilmartin 7, Jackson 7, Prosser 7, Kent 8, Vincent-Young 7, Stevenson 7, Pell 8, Szmodics 8 (Roberts 81, 6), Nouble 8, Senior 7 (Dickenson 66, 7), Mandron 5 (Eisa 46, 7). Subs not used: Barnes, Lapslie, Comley,
Att: 4,796 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ross Joyce 7/10
COLCHESTER boss John McGreal hailed his side’s rout of Northampton.
United only led by one at the break thanks to Frank Nouble’s close-range finish during a tight first half, but they went through the gears in the second period with Abobaker Eisa, Kane Vincent-Young and Sammie Szmodics all scoring for just their second win in eight games.
“It was a terrific display,” said McGreal. “The first goal was important. We always look like we’re going to score and it was a terrific ball in from another set-piece.
“The goal got us going and the boys started playing some good, counter-attacking football.
“The pace when we went through the gears was a joy to watch from a young, dynamic footballing team.
“We needed the save off Rene Gilmartin before our second goal. He made the save and then we built on it.”
Cobblers debutant Marvin Sordell poked wide of an open goal early on, but it was all Colchester thereafter, Nouble giving them the lead when turning in Harry Pell’s header after 25 minutes. Pell then saw a goalbound shot blocked by Charlie Goode, before United made their superiority tell in a rampaging second half performance.
They struck twice in three minutes as Szmodics teed up new signing Eisa to make it 2-0 shortly after half-time.
Eisa then turned provider with Vincent-Young smashing home a third, and Colchester had another after 66 minutes when Brennan Dickenson squared for Szmodics to slot past David Cornell.
United also missed a late penalty, with home stopper Cornell keeping out Pell’s weak spot-kick.
Cobblers boss Keith Curle added: “It was a difficult afternoon and a poor result, but arguably you could say they had 10 chances, we had nine and yet they’ve scored four goals and we haven’t scored any.
“The chances we had and the timings of those chances were key. They’re not half chances, they’re good chances and if you take them, it alters the course of the game.
“We need to score goals and we need to be better at defending our goal in terms of not allowing other teams to create chances against us.”