Super-sub Tchamadeu strikes late to fire U’s

WAYNE Brown praised teenager Junior Tchamadeu after he came off the bench to score a dramatic stoppagetime goal to secure Colchester’s win over Tranmere and all but secure their survival.

Tchamadeu slammed home from the edge of the area after Alan Judge had hooked Tom Eastman’s pass into his path, in the fifth minute of time added on.

U’s interim boss Brown said: “Credit to Junior, coming off the bench. He’s a young kid and what a finish.

“He’s just turned 18 and the lad’s got quality – he’s a real talent and that just proves it.

“We weren’t at our best and it was one of the worst performances we’ve had, since we’ve been back in.

“It was flat which happens in football and we needed a bit of spark.

“I’m pleased to get the three points and I’m chuffed for the lads.”

A tight game had looked destined for a draw, with defences on top.

Colchester went close in the 14th minute when Luke Hannant burst into the area and lifted a shot past Tranmere keeper Joe Murphy, but also just wide.

And the hosts felt they should have had a penalty when Cameron Coxe tumbled under

Calum MacDonald’s challenge, but referee Carl Brook instead awarded the hosts a free-kick, on the edge of the box.

Tranmere finished the first half strongly, with

Shamal George parrying Elliott Nevitt’s fierce shot.

George then made a low save to deny Kane Hemmings who had burst onto Peter Clarke’s free-kick. George pulled off a fantastic diving save to to push Nevitt’s effort away for a corner after the break, before Tchamadeu produced his late heroics.

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon said: “We were totally in control and it was a real sucker punch – as sucker punches go, that’s as big as they get.

“I think we should have had a foul, on the far side.

“I don’t think there was a person in the stadium who doesn’t think it’s a foul.

“Over the course of the whole game, we controlled it completely.

“We needed to be more clinical when we had some opportunities in the game.

“I don’t think we’ve had as much control in many games this season as we did today.”