Colchester boosted their League One survival hopes with an impressive home win against high-flying Yeovil Town.

The Glovers had gone nine matches unbeaten in the league before succumbing to defeat in Essex.

Billy Clifford's mazy run and 25-yard shot gave Colchester a lead that they never looked like relinquishing.

Former West Ham striker Freddie Sears made the game safe, firing in from inside the box after good work by teenager Bradley Garmston.

Home keeper Sam Walker kept out efforts from Yeovil duo Ed Upson and Dan Burn, as the visitors lost ground in the race for promotion.

Gary Johnson's side are sixth, four points behind leaders Doncaster, while Joe Dunne's U's moved to within a point of safety.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Colchester United manager Joe Dunne told BBC Essex:

"I think it was probably one of the best (performances), based on the circumstances and what happened on Saturday [a 5-1 hom,e defeat by Tranmere] and the mood after the game.

"We've had a good reaction. I thought it was a great team performance. We need to show more of that and we'll get out of where we are - because that's the kind of performance it's going to take.

"To a man they were excellent. All the credit goes to the players and my staff. They've really put in a shift. It was needed after Saturday."

Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson told BBC Somerset:

"We didn't show any of the innovation that we have shown during our run [eight wins in a row before Saturday's draw at Doncaster].

"Colchester got in to our faces and they shut down well early, we thought it wouldn't last long, but then they earned their goal and that gave them the strength to keep going.

"We knew the first goal would be important. We huffed and puffed and didn't get anywhere.

"It was a long way for our supporters and we didn't give them anything."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Colchester United

  • 44 Walker
  • 03 Garmston (Thompson - 78' )
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 41 Clifford
  • 14 Bond
  • 39 Porter (Wright - 90' )
  • 11 Sears
  • 17 Ibehre (Morrison - 86' )
  • 21 Massey

Substitutes

  • 01 Cousins
  • 40 Thompson
  • 15 Bean
  • 28 Gilbey
  • 30 Wright
  • 09 Morrison
  • 33 Compton

Yeovil Town

  • 01 Stech
  • 02 Ayling
  • 05 Webster
  • 16 Ralph
  • 18 Burn
  • 20 Edwards
  • 08 Upson
  • 14 Foley (Young - 56' )
  • 22 Dawson (Dolan - 76' )
  • 07 Appiah (Williams - 64' )
  • 17 Madden

Substitutes

  • 12 Stewart
  • 04 Hinds
  • 06 Blizzard
  • 10 Williams
  • 19 Dolan
  • 15 Young
Ref: Rushton
Att: 2,367

Match Stats

Shots

8 10

On target

5 7

Corners

6 9

Fouls

9 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:15 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:08

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Walker.

90:00 +3:02

Corner taken right-footed by Gavin Williams from the right by-line, clearance made by Brian Wilson.

90:00 +2:33

Edward Upson takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a brilliant save.

90:00 +0:56 Substitution

Substitution George Porter goes off and Drey Wright comes on.

89:57

Corner taken right-footed by Gavin Williams, Brian Wilson manages to make a clearance.

89:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Edwards by Tom Eastman. Free kick taken by Edward Upson.

88:10

Clinton Morrison challenges Nathan Ralph unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Marek Stech.

87:47

Dan Burn concedes a free kick for a foul on Clinton Morrison. George Porter takes the direct free kick.

86:11

Joe Edwards concedes a free kick for a foul on George Porter. Free kick taken by Tom Eastman.

85:02 Substitution

Substitution Jabo Ibehre leaves the field to be replaced by Clinton Morrison.

81:22

Foul by Jabo Ibehre on Lewis Young, free kick awarded. Shot comes in from Gavin Williams from the free kick, Tom Eastman gets a block in. Corner taken by Gavin Williams from the left by-line.

81:22

Jabo Ibehre concedes a free kick for a foul on Lewis Young. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Paddy Madden, Tom Eastman gets a block in. Corner from left by-line taken by Paddy Madden.

77:50

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matthew Dolan from the right by-line.

77:50 Substitution

Substitution Bradley Garmston leaves the field to be replaced by Josh Thompson.

75:57 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Dawson goes off and Matthew Dolan comes on.

75:13

Kevin Dawson decides to take the corner short.

74:25

Gavin Williams takes a shot. Save made by Sam Walker.

70:24

Paddy Madden takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a save.

68:48

The offside flag is raised against Jabo Ibehre. Luke Ayling takes the indirect free kick.

68:28

George Porter is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Marek Stech.

67:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Ayling on Jabo Ibehre. Billy Clifford crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.

66:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jabo Ibehre on Nathan Ralph. Luke Ayling takes the free kick.

63:47 Substitution

Substitution (Yeovil) makes a substitution, with Gavin Williams coming on for Kwesi Appiah.

58:01

Brian Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Dawson. Edward Upson crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Magnus Okuonghae.

61:38

Assist by Bradley Garmston.

61:38 Goal scored

Goal - Freddie Sears - Colchester 2 - 0 Yeovil Freddie Sears finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Colchester 2-0 Yeovil.

58:29

Free kick crossed by Edward Upson, Magnus Okuonghae makes a clearance.

58:01

Unfair challenge on Kevin Dawson by Brian Wilson results in a free kick.

57:10

Edward Upson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Gavin Massey makes a clearance.

56:38

Outswinging corner taken by Edward Upson from the right by-line, Brian Wilson makes a clearance.

55:55 Substitution

Substitution Lewis Young joins the action as a substitute, replacing Sam Foley.

55:13

Paddy Madden takes a shot. Save by Sam Walker.

52:08

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Edward Upson from the right by-line, save by Sam Walker.

51:22

The offside flag is raised against George Porter. Marek Stech takes the indirect free kick.

50:47

Joe Edwards gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian Wilson. Sam Walker restarts play with the free kick.

49:35

Shot on goal by Gavin Massey from long range goes harmlessly over the target.

48:41

George Porter delivers the ball, comfortable save by Marek Stech.

48:00

Unfair challenge on Luke Ayling by Jabo Ibehre results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Ayling.

46:01

Jabo Ibehre takes a shot. Marek Stech makes a brilliant save.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:41 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +2:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bradley Garmston by Kwesi Appiah. Direct free kick taken by Sam Walker.

45:00 +0:20 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Clifford - Colchester 1 - 0 Yeovil Billy Clifford scores a goal from outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Colchester 1-0 Yeovil.

41:24

Edward Upson takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a save.

40:18

Corner taken by Billy Clifford from the right by-line, save made by Marek Stech.

38:33

Corner taken by Billy Clifford from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Edward Upson.

37:48

Billy Clifford takes a shot. Blocked by Dan Burn.

35:19

Billy Clifford takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Byron Webster.

35:00

Billy Clifford takes a shot. Marek Stech makes a save.

32:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Clifford on Edward Upson. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Nathan Ralph from right channel.

29:34

George Porter challenges Edward Upson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Luke Ayling.

28:13

The official flags Paddy Madden offside. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Walker.

25:57

Corner taken by Billy Clifford from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Magnus Okuonghae misses to the left of the goal.

23:12

Sam Foley takes a shot. Tom Eastman gets a block in.

18:49

Inswinging corner taken by Edward Upson, Andy Bond makes a clearance.

17:03

A cross is delivered by Joe Edwards, Header from deep inside the area by Kwesi Appiah goes over the bar.

16:25

Foul by Billy Clifford on Edward Upson, free kick awarded. Luke Ayling takes the free kick.

15:31

The assistant referee signals for offside against Freddie Sears. Indirect free kick taken by Marek Stech.

10:59

Billy Clifford produces a cross, save by Marek Stech.

7:39

Joe Edwards produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

6:32

Freddie Sears delivers the ball, Marek Stech makes a comfortable save.

4:09

Shot from just outside the box by Sam Foley goes over the crossbar.

1:21

Corner taken by Billy Clifford, Sam Foley manages to make a clearance.

0:19

Corner taken by Billy Clifford from the right by-line, Magnus Okuonghae has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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