Colchester United secured only their 3rd home victory of the season this afternoon as Stephen Gillesipe's first half penalty saw off Leyton Orient.

Historians will record that Ipswich Town, Carlisle United, Yeovil Town and Leyton Orient were the only teams in 2008 to suffer defeat at Colchester United's home making it, without doubt the worse calendar year for home supporters. Victory over Leyton Orient on Sunday afternoon had just about everything: a penalty, a controversial penalty, a saved penalty, a sending off and a baffling performance from the referee. Regardless, the three points gained by Paul Lamberts men have lifted them in to the heady heights of 11th in the table and for the first time this season, they head their Essex neighbours.

Paul Lambert made three changes from the side that had beaten Brighton on Boxing Day. Clive Platt dropped to the bench with Johnnie Jackson whilst an injury to Chris Coyne kept him out of the side. They were replaced by Stephen Gillespie - starting his first game since the Carlisle win - Paul Reid and Boxing Day hero Scott Vernon.

Martin Ling's Leyton Orient side had former U's enigma Dean Morgan on the bench but there was no place for Danny Granville who moved to Brisbane Road following his release from the club at the end of last season. Jason Demetriou, who scored the winner in the FA Cup tie between the two sides earlier in the season, would be up against Alan Maybury this time around whistle Adam Boyd and target man Sam Parkin led the line.

There was a sizeable crowd at the Weston Homes Community Stadium with the East London bringing a large contingent down the A12 for the second time this season. The attendance of 6,290 was the largest seen at United's new home for a domestic club game but was just under the official attendance at the final game at Layer Road earlier this year.

Perkins, playing on the right hand side of the U's midfield quartet, set up Gillespie for the first chance of the match but the former Cheltenham man chipped the ball wide for a goal kick. Yeates then curled a shot well wide before the U's created their first real chance of the game. Reid's ball forward saw Gillespie break the O's offside trap. Under pressure from the chasing Brian Saah, the U's record signing got his shot away on the edge of the box but Morris did well to parry the ball away for a corner. Vernon then combined with his strike partner on the edge of the box only for Gillespie to fire wide.

The O's started to come back in to the game around the midway point of the half and, with eleven minutes to go to the break won a free kick 25 yards out which signalled danger to the U's fans. Former Doncaster midfield Sean Thornton took the free kick which caught the edge of the U's wall (though given the height of those involved it was more like a picket fence). Thankfully, the deflection did not change the flight of the ball too much and Walker was able to get in behind the ball to make a relatively comfortable save.

United made the breakthrough on 39 minutes from the penalty spot. Gillespie surged down the right before finding Hammond in an advance position. The U's skipper fired in a cross which appeared to strike the hand of Tamika Mkandawire. The U's appeals were answered by the Assistant Referee in front of the West Stand who flagged for the penalty. Gillespie made no mistake from the penalty spot sending the keeper the wrong way to record his 4th United goal of the season.

The penalty decision angered the O's players and Thornton soon went in to the referee's notebook for dissent after another handball decision had gone against him. He was one of nine bookings in a game in what can only be described as a baffling performance from referee G Scott of Oxon in his first season on the Football League's list.

The half ended with a long free kick from Yeates which Morris saved comfortably on the first bounce but for only the second time this season, the U's would be taking a goal lead in to the WCHS dressing rooms.

United started the second half brightly with Izzet almost getting on to the end of Perkin's fizzing shot which had initially lacked direction but then almost became a superb pass!

After suffering what they felt was a harsh penalty decision in the first period, Orient fans behind the goal they were attacking were appealing for a handball inside the box shortly afterwards. Initially, the referee appeared to turn down their appeals, but the Assistant Referee - the same one who had given the U's their penalty - decided that the ball had struck the arms of Hammond. For what it’s worth, from my vantage point at the other end of the ground, I happen to think that both penalties were justified however, the manner in which the second penalty was given was, to me at least, puzzling. The Referee was far closer to the incident and seemed content to allow play to continue until the intervention of his assistant who was three times the distance away. Just seemed odd to me.

Adam Boyd stepped up to take the penalty and fired it straight down the centre of the goal however, he just allowed Walker the opportunity to get his hands to the ball and punch it away much to the delight of over 5,000 U's fans inside the ground. We've tried to work out the last goalkeeper to make a penalty save during an actual match - and the best we can come up with Richard McKinney at Plymouth Argyle in April 2003 when he saved an effort from Paul Wotton.

Buoyed by the penalty save, United looked to double their advantage. Perkins and Tierney combined on the left hand side but the fullbacks cross was just behind Scott Vernon who still did well to get his header towards goal albeit well over the bar.
Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling made his first changes of the game after twenty minutes of the half with ex-U's man Dean Morgan and Simon Dawkins coming on for Adam Boyd and Sam Parkin. Lambert responded with his first changes shortly afterwards as Jackson replaced Izzet and Clive Platt came on for a tiring Stephen Gillespie with twenty minutes remaining.

United continued to look for a second with Tierney's powerful run down the left ending with a pass in to the middle where Platt slipped and Vernon, perhaps surprised a receiving the ball, was unable to fashion a few yards of space in order to deliver a meaningful effort at goal. Yeates was then withdrawn to allow John White to come with Alan Maybury pushing on to right midfield from fullback.

With eight minutes remaining, the visitors were reduced to ten men, and to be absolutely honest, I'm not sure why. I followed the ball forward towards the Orient penalty area but referee Scott blew up for an incident on the half way line between Maybury and Thornton. With Maybury shown a yellow card first, Thornton suffered the same punishment and, as he had been booked for dissent late in the first half, was subsequently shown a red card to end his involvement in proceedings.

United were perhaps unlucky not to find that vital second goal which would have calmed a few nerves around the ground as Morris' goal led a charmed life. John White's whipped cross to the far post saw Perkins get above his man to head towards goal. Just wide of the target, Scott Vernon was able to get to the ball to try and poke the ball home from an acute angle but Morris saved on the line. The ball rebounded in to the air where again Perkins got to his head first only to this time see his header come back off the post and finally in to the grateful arms of the Orient keeper.

Despite pressure from the ten men the United rearguard held firm for the remaining four minutes of injury time to protect Walker who, penalty save aside had rarely been called in to serious action. Five wins out of the last seven shows tremendous improvement from the U's and with the January transfer window soon to open, United fans can hopefully look forward to a much improved 2009.

Shot of the Match: Not many shots from distance but Yeates' did force Morris in to a save from a free kick in the first half.
Save of the Match: Despite the save Morris made from Gillespie in the first half, this surely has to go to Jimmy Walker's penalty save from Adam Boyd in the second half.
Moment of the Match: Had Walker not saved the penalty then there is a real doubt that United might not have held on under pressure from the O's. Clearly, it was the defining moment of the afternoon.
Man of the Match: Weston Homes named David Perkins as their MOTM but for me, I thought the U's defence was outstanding. Lambert is clearly working from the back forward and in Alan Maybury and Marc Tierney looks to have found two very impressive fullbacks. Baldwin and Reid were dominant in the air against Boyd and Parkin but my MOTM goes to the U's left back MARC TIERNEY if only for his additional attacking ability and the fact that I can't recall a single person getting past him on Sunday. Let's hope his loan move is soon made permanent.

Colchester: Walker, Maybury, Reid, Baldwin, Tierney, Izzet (Jackson 69), Hammond, Perkins, Yeates (White 75), Vernon, Gillespie (Platt 70).
Subs Not Used: Gerken, Wordsworth.

Booked: Tierney, Izzet, Maybury.

Goals: Gillespie 39 pen.

Leyton Orient: Morris, Cave-Brown, Mkandawire, Saah, Purches, Jarvis (Melligan 73), Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou, Parkin (Dawkins 65), Boyd (Morgan 65).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Spence.

Sent Off: Thornton (82).

Booked: Demetriou, Thornton, Jarvis, Chambers, Melligan, Cave-Brown.

Att: 6,290

Ref: Graham Scott (Devon).

Photo: Action Images

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