Colchester Utd 3 Crawley Town 1

JOHN MCGREAL was delighted with the response of his Colchester players after an impressive secondhalf performance saw them go sixth.

Sammie Szmodics had opened the scoring, before Filipe Morais netted from the spot – though Mcgreal claimed Luke Gambin dived to win the penalty.

Frank Nouble and Luke Norris made sure of the win and Mcgreal said: “The boys were

disappointed with the penalty decision that went against us, and one or two choice words were said at half-time. But we scored a terrific second goal.”

Crawley boss Gabriele Cioffi, who saw Bondz N’gala sent off late on, admitted: “It was a disappointing afternoon for us, but we didn’t deserve to lose heavily.

“We are strong at home, but are not picking up as many points away. We have only one medicine and that is work.”