Colchester 1-3 Walsall: Saddlers bounce back with victory in Essex
The Saddlers emerged with their first win at Colchester in over 11 years.
Walsall returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Colchester United at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Declan Skura broke the deadlock after just three minutes, before Sean Raggett had a goal ruled out for the hosts.
Colchester did level when Jack Payne converted from the spot on 35 minutes, after Elicha Ahui upended Moses Sesay inside the box.
Aaron Pressley extended his season tally to 10 with a glancing header 11 minutes from time and Courtney Clarke sealed the win deep into stoppage time.
That saw Walsall emerge with victory in Colchester for the first time in 11 years, as they registered their first away win in six.
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League leaders Salford City brought the Saddlers’ 11-match unbeaten start in League Two to an end when they consigned them to a 4-2 defeat at Bescot on Monday night.
Meanwhile, hosts Colchester United were winless in nine league games, as Lee Grant made three changes for the trip to Essex.
Elicha Ahui immediately returned after serving his suspension. Declan Skura moved to centre-back, while Charlie Crew and Lewis Simper were also recalled.
Walsall hit the front inside just three minutes when Skura opened his goal scoring account following a chaotic goalmouth scramble.
Reece Smith’s corner delivery caused havoc, as Isaac Moore helped the ball towards goal, before Skura eventually prodded it over the line.
The Saddlers ceded the initiative after a positive start and Jed Ward was called upon for the first time to save with his legs after Jack Payne broke in behind.
Colchester did find the back of the net moments later when Raggett towered above his marker to head inside the near post, but Chiwome was stood in the eye-line of Ward and was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
The hosts had another chance to restore parity when Ahui was clumsily tempted into tripping Southampton loanee Sesay inside the box. Payne planted the resulting penalty into the bottom corner 10 minutes before half-time - despite Ward guessing the right way.
Ward was forced into a save to deny Oscar Thorn just after the restart, while Thimothee Lo-Tutala made a near post stop to thwart Aaron Pressley at the other end.
Walsall engineered a sumptuous passing move, starting with a Cruyff turn from Crew on halfway. Sodje slotted into the path of Pressley, who was once again repelled by Lo-Tutala.
Although the visitors were fortunate not to have fallen behind when Digby’s stabbed finish was turned behind by Ward.
Colchester continued to pile on the pressure, as Ward palmed Sesay’s strike over the crossbar and Payne saw his low effort deflect wide.
Smith came agonisingly close to restoring the Saddlers’ lead when his snapshot from just outside the box rattled the crossbar.
Pressley restored their lead on 79 minutes when he applied a glancing header beyond Lo-Tutala from Hancock’s deflected cross.
Substitute Clarke put the seal on the win when he seized on Andy Dallas’ rebounded shot to find the net via the crossbar.
Next, Walsall travel to league rivals Newport County for the FA Cup first round at Rodney Parade on November 7.
Teams
Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Ahui, Skura, Connolly (c), Hancock; Moore, Crew (Sprangler 90 +3’); Simper (Clarke 71), Sodje (Dallas 71), Smith; Pressley.
Not used: Wooster, Leak, Furlong, Adomah.
Colchester (4-2-3-1): Lo-Tutala; Vincent-Young (K Connolly 87), Tucker (c), Raggett, Iandolo; Digby, Jay Williams (Perry 81); Thorn (Ihionvien 81), Payne, Sesay; Chiwome (Jaden Williams 46)
Not used: Smith, Hunt, Terry.
Other details
Referee: Declan Brown
Attendance: 4,122 (264)
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