Kit Symons' first match as caretaker U's boss ended with a vital three points from the U's but how they had to work for it after almost blowing a three goal lead against Tranmere Rovers.

United had scored three time before the break through David Perkins, Mark Yeates and Clive Platt with Antony Kay replying for the home side. When Johnnie Jackson lashed home the ball just a couple of minutes after the break and the U's looked as though they would comfortably hold on but a mistake from Dean Gerken and a thumper from Ryan Shotton gave the U's a very nervous last quarter of an hour.

Symons, looking to stamp his job application form with a strong performance tonight, made three changes to the side that had lost at home to MK Dons. Skipper Chris Coyne, Sunday-Akanni Wasiu and Phil Ifil were dropped with only the Australian making the bench. In came loanee Gary Borrowdale, Matt Heath and Dean Hammond as the U's went 4-5-1 with just Clive Platt up front.

That system meant the U's midfield had to get close to Platt in order to create any chances and they did that after just four minutes as a measured U's move through the midfield ended with David Perkins firing home from the edge of the box.

United’s last six visits to Prenton Park have all ended in draws and that look on the cards when Bas Savage crossed to the far post where Antony Kay was there to head from close range after just a dozen minutes. Two minutes later though, the U's were back in front thanks to a super free kick from Mark Yeates who curled the ball past Danny Coyne from 3- yards.

Sonko missed a good chance for the home side midway through the half when centrally placed just eight yards out he somehow contrived to miss the target.

With six minutes of the half remaining, United extended their lead with Clive Platt's first of the season. Yeates was again involved as he pulled the ball back to the U's target man who made no mistake from eight yards out.

At half the stats showed that the U's had had three shots on target and scored with all three. They made it four out of four when Johnnie Jackson lashed home the loose ball after a challenge on Yeates had left the Irishman after a penalty.

Rover’s manager Ronnie Moore made two changes with Chris Shuker and ex-Ipswich Town midfielder George O'Callaghan who saw an early free kick curl well over the bar. Symons was forced in to a change with Wordsworth replacing Kem Izzet - Paul Reid took the captain's armband from the club's longest serving player. While waiting for the substitution, Dean Gerken was booked and he obviously spent some time thinking about it - at least, his mind wasn't on the job as Taylor's 45 yard free kick inexplicably went through the U's keeper's hands to reduce the lead.

And that lead was down to just one a couple of minutes later when Ryan Shotton grabbed the goal of a game with a strong run down the right hand side and a thumping shot which gave the U's goalkeeper no chance.

With ten minutes remaining it was going to be a nervy last part of the game but in United's credit, the home side rarely looked like grabbing an unlikely draw. Symons brought on Vernon for the tiring Platt upfront, while Elito came on to replace Yeates with the seconds slowly ebbing away.

United therefore just managed to secure their second away win of the season and remarkably, of the seven goals, just two were scored from inside the penalty area. It was United's first win by the odd goal in seven away from home since Niall Thompson's late brace completed a marvellous come-back from three down Glanford Park against Scunthorpe United in Feb 1995

Tranmere: Coyne, Shotton, Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Moore, Kay, Jennings (Shuker 54), Sonko (O'Callaghan 54), Savage, Greenacre (Curran 87). Subs Not Used: Achterberg and Edds.

Goals: Kay 12, Taylor 76, Shotton 78.

Colchester: Gerken, White, Reid, Heath, Borrowdale, Yeates (Elito 90), Hammond, Izzet (Wordsworth 73), Perkins, Jackson, Platt (Vernon 86). Subs Not Used: Cousins and Coyne.

Booked: Gerken, Hammond.

Goals: Perkins 4, Yeates 15, Platt 40, Jackson 47.

Att: 5,713

Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Photo: Action Images

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