Colchester v Tranmere

Colchester 4

Henderson 4′ Eastman 46′ Goodison 66′ (og) Sears 84′

Tranmere 2

FT 90 +5
HT 1-0

Colchester 4-2 Tranmere

Goals from Ian Henderson, Tom Eastman, Freddie Sears and an own goal from Ian Goodison saw Colchester record a comfortable victory over Tranmere.

Henderson headed Colchester ahead before Eastman followed suit also nodding home but Tranmere pulled one back through James Wallis's low shot.

The U's restored their advantage when Rovers' Goodison diverted Michael Rose's corner into his own net.

Jake Cassidy pulled a goal back before Sears sealed it with a fine strike.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Colchester United manager John Ward told BBC Essex:

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"For me, it's what we've deserved over the season, particularly over the last eight weeks where we've drawn too many games.

"At the same time we've had matches where we could have done what we've done today, found the net a little bit more.

"So I'm really pleased they've gone out on that high, it's been a nice reward for everybody today.

"It could have been 8-4 or 5, but we deserved to win the game, we had more opportunities to score."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Colchester

01 Williams
03 Rose
04 Okuonghae
18 Eastman Booked
20 Wilson
25 White
14 Bond (Hamilton - 87' )
22 Wordsworth
23 James
15 Odejayi Booked (Gillespie - 54' )
16 Henderson

Substitutes

08 O'Toole
27 Duguid
31 Hamilton
09 Gillespie (Sears - 79' )
11 Sears

Tranmere

13 Coughlin
03 Bakayogo
05 Goodison Booked
06 McChrystal
15 Holmes
08 Welsh
11 Robinson (McGurk - 78' )
27 Wallace (Weir - 86' )
09 Tyriaki Booked
17 Akins (Devaney - 78' )
18 Cassidy

Substitutes

10 Weir
25 Devaney
07 Showunmi
14 McGurk
28 Brunt

Ref: Haines

Att: 4,061

Match Stats

Possession 50 50

Shots

13 7

On target

6 6

Corners

5 6

Fouls

4 2

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:17 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:31

Corner taken left-footed by Adam McGurk, Header from deep inside the penalty area by John Welsh goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

90:00 +2:48

Corner taken right-footed by Martin Devaney from the right by-line, Tom Eastman manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +1:33

Lloyd James has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

89:19

Headed effort from inside the area by Ian Henderson strikes the post.

88:40

Short corner taken by Michael Rose from the right by-line.

86:44 Substitution

Substitution Bradley Hamilton comes on in place of Andy Bond.

85:54 Substitution

Substitution Robbie Weir comes on in place of James Wallace.

83:28

Assist on the goal came from Lloyd James.

83:28 Goal scored

Goal - Freddie Sears - Colchester 4 - 2 Tranmere Freddie Sears gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Colchester 4-2 Tranmere.

77:30 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears comes on in place of Steven Gillespie.

77:30 Substitution

Substitution Adam McGurk comes on in place of Andy Robinson.

77:30 Substitution

Substitution Martin Devaney on for Lucas Akins.

74:56

Andy Robinson is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Michael Rose.

73:07

Corner taken right-footed by Andy Robinson from the left by-line, Michael Rose makes a clearance.

71:07

Lucas Akins provided the assist for the goal.

71:07 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Cassidy - Colchester 3 - 2 Tranmere Jake Cassidy scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 3-2 Tranmere.

70:10

Mustafa Tiryaki takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams. Outswinging corner taken by Andy Robinson from the right by-line,

69:34

Jake Cassidy takes a shot. Save by Andy Coughlin.

68:48

Effort from inside the area by Steven Gillespie misses to the right of the target.

67:37

Shot from just outside the box by Lloyd James goes over the bar.

65:11 Goal scored

Goal - Ian Goodison - Colchester 3 - 1 Tranmere Headed own goal by Ian Goodison. Colchester 3-1 Tranmere.

63:28

Andy Bond takes a shot. Andy Coughlin makes a save. Corner taken right-footed by Michael Rose.

62:41

Jake Cassidy takes a shot. Comfortable save by Ben Williams.

61:04

Jake Cassidy is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.

59:55

The assistant referee signals for offside against Steven Gillespie. Andy Coughlin takes the free kick.

59:15 Booking

Booking Mustafa Tiryaki receives a caution.

58:40

Mustafa Tiryaki challenges Steven Gillespie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steven Gillespie restarts play with the free kick.

56:54

Lloyd James takes the inswinging corner, Zoumana Bakayogo manages to make a clearance.

56:12

Corner taken by Michael Rose, Lucas Akins makes a clearance.

53:26 Substitution

Substitution Steven Gillespie joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kayode Odejayi.

51:22

Assist by Andy Robinson.

51:22 Goal scored

Goal - James Wallace - Colchester 2 - 1 Tranmere A goal is scored by James Wallace from 30 yards to the bottom left corner of the goal. Colchester 2-1 Tranmere.

50:54

Mustafa Tiryaki fouled by Magnus Okuonghae, the ref awards a free kick. James Wallace takes the free kick.

49:32

Andy Robinson fouled by Anthony Wordsworth, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Robinson takes the direct free kick.

48:30

Andy Robinson takes the direct free kick.

48:30 Booking

Booking The referee shows Tom Eastman a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

48:24

Mustafa Tiryaki fouled by Tom Eastman, the ref awards a free kick.

45:57

The assist for the goal came from Brian Wilson.

45:57 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Eastman - Colchester 2 - 0 Tranmere Tom Eastman finds the back of the net with a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Colchester 2-0 Tranmere.

45:32

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Lloyd James from the left by-line to the near post.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:08 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.