Colchester United reporter, Carl Marston, recalls a U’s 2-1 home win over Carlisle United from 24 years ago, on November 27, 1993:
Roy McDonough’s Colchester team, in their second season back in the Football League, ended a run of five straight defeats with this welcome Saturday success over the Cumbrians at Layer Road, in front of a crowd of 2,316.
Tony English was the star-man, bagging a brace, the second of these goals arriving in the nick of time.
The home side suffered a double setback at the start of the afternoon.
First choice keeper John Keeley was ruled out with a suspected broken ankle, having tumbled down the stairs at his Canvey Island home on the morning of the match.
And Rod Thomas then fired Carlisle into a fifth minute lead via a long-range shot past deputy keeper Nathan Munson.
Back-up keeper Munson was making only his third appearance in the Football League.
But English came to his side’s rescue, firstly by heading home a 43rd minute equaliser, after Roy McDonough’s initial effort had thudded back off the bar.
Up against former West Ham keeper Mervyn Day, the U’s searched for a second-half winner and it finally arrived in the 88th minute. Steve Ball (current U’s assistant manager) saw his free-kick blocked, but English was on hand to ram home the loose ball.
U’s team (November 27, 1993): Munson, Betts, Roberts Kinsella, English, Cawley, Ball, Brown, McDonough, McGavin, Smith. Subs: Abrahams, Richardson & Schultz.
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