back to back wins
Colchester vs Wolves
Colchester United Football Club
0 - 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club
Date:
01/03/2008
Venue:
Layer Road
Attendance:
5989
Referee:
Iain Williamson
Colchester United 0
Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 30)
A second successive away victory lifted Wolves to within two points of a play off place with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake grabbing the only goal of the game against relegation threatened Colchester.
Wolves, unchanged for their last ever visit to Layer Road with Colchester set to move to a new ground next season. kicked-off defending the end of the ground that housed a thousand of the supporters.
Phil Ifil put Dean Gerken under pressure with an overhit backpass in only the second minute. The keeper managed to clear upfield where Michael Gray was penalised for a challenge that left home skipper Karl Duguid in need of treatment.
Johnnie Jackson's free-kick went over the wall and into the arms of Wayne Hennessey.
In the 10th minute Clive Platt knocked Jackson's centre back to Kevin McLeod whose close range volley looked destined for the top corner until Hennessey made an excellent diving save holding on to the ball in the process.
Jody Craddock hurt his ankle as he blocked Kevin Lisbie's cross at the expense of a corner and he was only able to continue after lengthy treatment.
George Elokobi, who received a warm reception on his first return to his former club, hit a low centre across the face of the Colchester goal with a defender turning the ball behind at the far post.
In the 19th minute Kevin McLeod, at full stretch, just failed to reach Lisbie's low cross and, when Wolves responded, Stephen Elliott's drive was deflected behind after he had taken a return pass from Karl Henry.
On the half-hour mark Ebanks-Blake fired Wolves into the lead. The striker took full advantage after Adam Virgo had allowed Neill Collins' long clearance to bounce over his head leaving the former Plymouth man with just Gerken to beat - he made no mistake.
Craddock's injury finally forced a 34th minute change with Kevin Foley coming on slotting in at right-back with Collins moving into central defence alongside Gary Breen.
Shortly afterwards, Duguid also went off after feeling the effects of his earlier knock making way for Izale McLeod who signed for the U's on loan from Charlton just 24 hours earlier.
Gray went into the book for pulling back Ifil before Hennessey came to the rescue as the game was about to drift into stoppage time.
Kem Izzet threaded a pass through to Lisbie who was clean through. But the Welsh keeper was quickly off his line to block with Breen completing the clearance.
Half-Time: Colchester 0 Wolves 1
Virgo was booked for a foul on David Edwards five minutes after the restart as the visiting defence coped confidently with any threats posed by the Colchester forwards.
Elliott was high and wide with a long-range effort before Elokobi almost marked his return to Layer Road in style. Gray's corner was half cleared to Darren Potter who was tackled as he was about to shoot. The loose ball ran to Elokobi who hit a low drive that was cleared off the line by Ifil.
With 15 minutes remaining Edwards was penalised for a foul on Kevin Watson ten-yards outside the Wolves' box. Jackson floated in the free-kick and Chris Coyne's powerful header wasn't too far wide of the far post.
A double switch by Mick McCarthy saw Kevin Kyle replacing Ebanks-Blake while Darron Gibson came on for Gray.
Kyle was soon involved with a low cross that was claimed by Gerken at the feet of Edwards. At the other end a good saving tackle from Henry prevented Izale McLeod getting in a shot at goal.
From a Potter centre Kyle flicked a header inches wide and then the on loan striker just failed to connect with Gibson's cross.
Elliott fired narrowly wide after he had cut in from the left before, deep into stoppage time, his challenge on Jackson resulted in a Colchester free-kick 22-yards out and in a central position.
Jackson took the free-kick himself and, after the ball had bounced behind off the wall, he also took the corner with Platt's flick flying dangerously through the six-yard box before going out beyond the far post.
Colchester: Gerken, Jackson, Coyne, Watson, Duguid (capt) (I. McLeod 39), Platt, Izzet (Balogh 70), K. McLeod (Hammond 70), Ifil, Virgo, Lisbie.
Unused subs: Vernon, Bankole.
Bookings: Virgo (50 - foul).
Wolves: Hennessey, Collins, Elokobi, Henry, Craddock (Foley 34), Breen (capt), Potter, D. Edwards, Ebanks-Blake (Kyle 77), Elliott, Gray (Gibson 77).
Unused subs: Eastwood, Stack.
Bookings: Gray (40 - foul).
Referee: I. Williamson.
Attendance: 5,989.
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