The U’s collected three points in an entertaining away day at the PTS Academy Stadium on Saturday 2nd February 2019.
The hosts started strong with a low driven cross by Aaron Pierre mishit wide of the post by Marvin Sordell. However, the U’s were the first to find the back of the net as Harry Pell’s header was calmly controlled and volleyed in from close range by Frank Nouble. A stunning save by Rene Gilmartin prevented the U’s from being pegged level before halftime could arrive.
Just five minutes into the second half Sammie Szmodics drove forwards from the halfway line, beating two Northampton players before sliding it into halftime substitute and debutant Abo Eisa who placed the ball into the left of the goal. Eisa’s goal was the fastest by a U’s substitute since David Prutton’s strike against MK Dons in 2010.
Colchester continued to dominate as Kane Vincent-Young began a run from deep inside the U’s half, before exchanging a one-two with Eisa and slotting the ball past David Cornell from the inside of the Northampton box.
Brennan Dickenson and Szmodics then found themselves behind the defensive line with Szmodics converting a neat low cross from Dickenson to earn himself the Man of the Match award and give Colchester their fourth.
John McGreal’s side then had the opportunity to pile more misery onto Northampton but Pell’s penalty was saved by Cornell.
The superb victory away from the JCS kept the U’s in 8th place on forty-nine points, just one place and two points away from 7th placed Exeter. Alternatively, this result saw Northampton fall to 17th place with thirty-seven points.