Colchester United 2 Oldham Athletic 1

Last updated : 13 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

All the action was in the second half as Colchester United returned to the Division Two play-off zone with a home win over gritty Oldham.

The home side took the lead on 48 minutes thanks to a fantastic finish from Karl Duguid. In fact, all three goals were excellent.

Kem Izzet set up the chance by winning a strong challenge in midfield and Duguid did the rest, capping a strong run with a clinical finish from 20 yards out.

Home keeper Simon Brown made a number of superb saves throughout the afternoon, but there was little he could do about the Oldham equaliser.

Former Oldham man Wayne Andrews conceded a needless foul on Paul Murray, and the Latics made him and his team pay.

Substitute David Eyres, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes, curled the free-kick past the defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

That equaliser arrived on 66 minutes, but Colchester poached what proved to be the winner five minutes later.

A corner from Duguid was only half-cleared as far as Rowan Vine, and he struck his shot with venom from outside the penalty area.

Keeper Les Pogliacomi could not prevent the ball from crossing the line, despite getting a hand to it.

Oldham had chances to equalise, none more so than when substitute Scott Vernon burst through on goal.

Vernon had just Brown to beat but the U's keeper palmed the final shot around the post.

Brown also had to deal with another free-kick from dangerman Eyres, which this time he managed to save.

Colchester, despite progressing in both the FA Cup and LDV Vans Trophy, had lost their previous two league games, so this was a crunch win for the Essex club.

They are now fifth in the table, but Oldham's terrible run of results continues, and they are slithering nearer the relegation zone with every week that passes.