Four-goal blast sinks Colchester as O’s win derby duel

Full-time: Orient 4 Colchester United 2

ORIENT recorded their first win of the New Year as they inflicted only the fourth league defeat of the season on Colchester United to win this derby duel.

Jimmy Smith, Alex Revell, and substitutes Paul-Jose M’Poku and Jonathan Tehoue bagged the goals that finally ended Colchester’s resistance, as the Essex side refused to throw in the towel and strikes from Anthony Wordsworth and Ian Henderson kept them in contention.

It was Orient who had the first chance of the gane when a Charlie Daniels corner from the right was met by Ben Chorley, but his header went straight into the arms of Colchester keeper Ben Williams.

Colchester hit back and Andrew Bond fired in a snapshot from the edge of the area that Orient keeper Jamie Jones did well to hold.

The O’s keeper was the busier of the two in the early stages and shortly afterwards he dived full length to beat away a fierce shot from Henderson.

Orient weathered the storm and hit back when Stephen Dawson went on a run down the left and cut the ball back for Scott McGleish, who fired an effort from a tight angle into the side netting.

In a bid to get his side back to winning ways Orient manager Russell Slade made two changes to the side beaten at Brighton, as on loan defender Andrew Whing returned to the back four in place of Aaron Brown, who dropped to the bench.

The move saw full back Elliot Omozusi switch to the centre of the defence alongside Ben Chorley.

While Cox returned to the starting 11 in place of Tottenham loanee Paul-Jose M’Poku and it was the diminutive winger, linking well with Daniels, that caused Colchester problems and he finally provided the key to unlock the visiting defence on 41 minutes.

Cox provided an excellent left-wing cross and Smith rose at the far post and sent an excellent header looping past Ben Williams and into the net.

Orient ended the first half on top and quickly underlined their superiority with a second goal on 49 minutes.

Alex Revell was the marksman with his 12th goal of the season, as he cashed in on some poor defending by the visitors.

O’s keeper Jones launched a long ball forward and Colchester skipper Paul Reid attempted to head the ball back to his keeper.

But Revell was quick to react and broke away from the Colchester rearguard before firing the ball past the advancing Williams.

After that chances were at a premium until Colchester threw themselves a lifeline 21 minutes from time and it was a really messy goal to concede.

Defender Whing skied the ball and home keeper Jones was caught in two minds whether to catch the ball and risk it being called a back pass, or try and kick it clear.

In the end he did neither and only palmed the ball in the direction of Anthony Wordsworth, who bundled it home.

It looked as if it was going to be a nervous ending, but O’s restored their two-goal cushion on 75 minutes when Matthew Spring found substitute M’Poku, who had replaced Cox four minutes earlier and he cut in and blasted an unstoppable shot past Williams.

But Colchester, who have lost just three times this season, came storming back with a second 10 minutes from time.

A long kick from Williams eluded Omozusi and Henderson was allowed to race through and slide the ball past Jones.

In a dramatic ending it was Orient that grabbed a fourth four minutes from time when substitute Jonathan Tehoue fired in an effort from 20 yards that Williams couldn’t hold.

The keeper parried the ball, but could only watch in horror as it went up in the air and rolled into the net.

Orient were on their way to victory and now they can look forward to Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Norwich.

Orient: Jones, Whing, Omozusi, Chorley, Daniels, Smith, Spring (Chambers 88 mins), Dawson, Cox (M’Poku 71 mins), McGleish, Revell (Tehoue 67). Subs: Butcher,Brown, Chambers, Tehoue, Cestor, Walker, M’Poku.

Referee: Danny McDermid

Attendance: 4,339 (inc 708 Colchester Fans).