Danny Cowley celebrates rare Colchester league win

Danny Cowley hopes Colchester’s “really difficult period” is over after they recorded a League Two victory for the first time since August with a 2-0 home win over Gillingham.

Jack Payne won and scored a 61st-minute penalty before Harry Anderson tucked home a second in the 72nd minute to end a 10-game winless run in the league.

Colchester had picked up a victory in the FA Cup last weekend, and a penalty shootout success in the EFL Trophy in midweek, to leave Cowley impressed with his side’s turnaround.

“A great feeling – it’s been a great week for us, three wins, three clean sheets after a really difficult period where not much has gone for us,” the Colchester boss said.

“I didn’t think loads went for us in the game.

“We had a really good start in the first 25 minutes and then it just felt like we couldn’t get 11 players on the pitch, it was just one thing after the other.

“We had four different blood injuries at different stages and lost a little bit of momentum at the back end of the first half.

“We came out in the second half with four right footers across the back four and brought Ben Perry into the midfield with Jay Williams and went forward a bit quicker.

“They picked up every second ball and it allowed us to go forward, gain territory and score two goals from set pieces and keep a clean sheet.

“It was a pretty good afternoon’s work for us.”

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth was frustrated that two set pieces proved his team’s downfall.

He said: “We have to defend them better, because we controlled the game.

“We were the better team but we weren’t, because they’ve scored two and we haven’t scored any.

“We had lots of ball, we had lots of territory and got it in their box but we just didn’t make it count or have that finishing touch today.

“Set pieces – we weren’t threatening enough at ours and they scored two of theirs.

“That’s the game really.

“We came out so well in the first half, changed the shape, really exciting.

“We were really good and then second half, again controlled the game, had chances, just didn’t put them in and that’s the story of the game.

“For the penalty, it was a silly free-kick to give away, that comes in our box, leads to a corner, that goes out of our box, leads to the penalty and then we’re chasing.

“They then get another chance where there’s a breakaway, Ollie (Wright) makes a great save but then the corner that comes in, it (the goal) is offside but you get them.”