Craig Eastmond and Jabo Ibehre's first-half goals saw Colchester defeat Carlisle United.

The lead came after 25 minutes when Eastmond scored from close range after a one-two with Sanchez Watt.

Ibehre converted Watt's cross from six yards out and the assister had a chance for his own goal but he hit the post.

Carlisle had chances and Peter Murphy headed off the crossbar, while Kallum Higginbotham, Mike Edwards and James Berrett all missed free headers.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Colchester United manager Joe Dunne told BBC Essex:

"I thought it was a really good learning game for us in terms of us having to adapt to what another team did, not only once but maybe twice.

"We scored great goals, we could have scored some more great goals, but there were one or two things that we need to be better that.

"If we want to have a passing game, we'll have a passing game If we want to go toe-to-toe my players have got to be able to stand up and take that.

"If it means grinding out results, we will do that."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Colchester United

  • 01 Cousins
  • 03 Rose
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson (White - 46' )
  • 33 Eastmond Booked
  • 15 Bean
  • 22 Wordsworth
  • 12 Ibehre (Henderson - 85' )
  • 21 Massey
  • 39 Watt (Sears - 60' )

Substitutes

  • 35 Pentney
  • 25 White
  • 31 Hamilton
  • 07 Duguid
  • 28 Gilbey
  • 11 Sears
  • 16 Henderson

Carlisle

  • 20 Gillespie
  • 02 Simek
  • 03 Robson
  • 06 Murphy
  • 15 Edwards Booked
  • 08 Noble (Beck - 80' )
  • 21 Berrett
  • 24 Chantler
  • 11 Cadamarteri (Symington - 57' )
  • 22 Garner
  • 27 Higginbotham (Potts - 72' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Collin
  • 05 Livesey
  • 31 Bugno
  • 07 Welsh
  • 16 Potts
  • 19 Symington
  • 17 Beck
Ref: Rushton
Att: 3,335

Match Stats

Shots

15 18

On target

8 3

Corners

5 6

Fouls

5 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:01 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:55

Anthony Wordsworth is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Gillespie.

90:00 +0:37

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

89:48

Effort on goal by Chris Chantler from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

88:53

Unfair challenge on James Berrett by Anthony Wordsworth results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Brad Potts.

87:19

Ian Henderson produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

86:34

Craig Eastmond fouled by Mike Edwards, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Rose takes the free kick.

84:12

Free kick taken by Michael Rose.

84:12 Substitution

Substitution Ian Henderson is brought on as a substitute for Jabo Ibehre.

84:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Symington on Gavin Massey.

83:25

Headed effort from deep inside the area by James Berrett misses to the right of the goal.

79:11 Substitution

Substitution Liam Noble leaves the field to be replaced by Mark Beck.

77:27

Michael Rose takes the free kick.

77:27 Booking

Booking Mike Edwards is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

77:24

Unfair challenge on Jabo Ibehre by Mike Edwards results in a free kick.

76:18

Brad Potts has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the goal.

75:10

Freddie Sears takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.

72:42

Gavin Massey takes a shot. Mark Gillespie makes a save. Corner taken left-footed by Anthony Wordsworth, Mike Edwards makes a clearance.

71:43 Substitution

Substitution Brad Potts is brought on as a substitute for Kallum Higginbotham.

71:43

The offside flag is raised against Joe Garner. Free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

69:57

Shot from just outside the box by Mike Edwards misses to the left of the goal.

69:35

Anthony Wordsworth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matt Robson. Matt Robson restarts play with the free kick.

67:52

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Eastmond, save by Mark Gillespie.

66:53

Corner taken right-footed by Craig Eastmond, save by Mark Gillespie.

65:34

Jabo Ibehre has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

59:40 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears comes on in place of Sanchez Watt.

56:49 Substitution

Substitution Danny Cadamarteri leaves the field to be replaced by David Symington.

53:55

Peter Murphy takes a shot. Save made by Mark Cousins. Corner taken by James Berrett, Tom Eastman manages to make a clearance. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marcus Bean by Danny Cadamarteri. Mark Cousins takes the free kick.

52:59

The official flags Jabo Ibehre offside. Mike Edwards restarts play with the free kick.

51:39

Liam Noble restarts play with the free kick, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Joe Garner misses to the right of the target.

51:39 Booking

Booking Craig Eastmond is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

51:36

Craig Eastmond challenges Chris Chantler unfairly and gives away a free kick.

50:46

Frank Simek has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

49:07

Effort on goal by Mike Edwards from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

48:36

Joe Garner fouled by Craig Eastmond, the ref awards a free kick. Peter Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

46:27

Danny Cadamarteri takes a shot. Comfortable save by Mark Cousins.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution John White joins the action as a substitute, replacing Brian Wilson.

45:00 +2:31 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:17

Sanchez Watt produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar. Joe Garner takes a shot. Save made by Mark Cousins.

43:36

Shot by Sanchez Watt from deep inside the box hits the post.

40:58

Effort on goal by Danny Cadamarteri from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

37:44

James Berrett takes a inswinging corner. Peter Murphy takes a shot. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by James Berrett, save by Mark Cousins.

36:45

Matt Robson is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Mark Cousins takes the indirect free kick.

36:04

Sanchez Watt produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

35:14

Gavin Massey takes a shot. Mark Gillespie makes a save.

33:49

Marcus Bean takes a shot. Save made by Mark Gillespie. Inswinging corner taken by Sanchez Watt. Tom Eastman takes a shot. Save by Mark Gillespie.

33:16

Anthony Wordsworth takes a shot. Save by Mark Gillespie.

32:00

Liam Noble has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

30:33

Assist by Sanchez Watt.

30:33 Goal scored

Goal - Jabo Ibehre - Colchester 2 - 0 Carlisle Jabo Ibehre fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Colchester 2-0 Carlisle.

28:05

James Berrett decides to take the corner short. Headed effort from inside the area by Mike Edwards misses to the right of the target.

24:10

Assist on the goal came from Sanchez Watt.

24:10 Goal scored

Goal - Craig Eastmond - Colchester 1 - 0 Carlisle Craig Eastmond scores a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Colchester 1-0 Carlisle.

21:54

Unfair challenge on Chris Chantler by Jabo Ibehre results in a free kick. Mark Gillespie takes the direct free kick.

20:43

Inswinging corner taken by James Berrett.

17:09

Jabo Ibehre takes a shot. Save by Mark Gillespie. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Sanchez Watt, Peter Murphy makes a clearance.

15:28

Headed effort from inside the area by Anthony Wordsworth hits the post.

12:27

The referee blows for offside against Danny Cadamarteri. Tom Eastman takes the free kick.

11:57

Effort on goal by Matt Robson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

7:41

Joe Garner has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

5:16

James Berrett takes the outswinging corner, Kallum Higginbotham produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

4:01

The assistant referee flags for offside against Danny Cadamarteri. Mark Cousins restarts play with the free kick.

3:13

Shot by Joe Garner from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association