Morecambe 0 Colchester United 1

East Anglian Daily Times: U's atttacker, Courtney Senior, who is involved in a private side-bet with Ryan Jackson. Picture: STEVE WALLERU's atttacker, Courtney Senior, who is involved in a private side-bet with Ryan Jackson. Picture: STEVE WALLER (Image: � Copyright Stephen Waller)

Courtney Senior’s third goal of the season was enough to secure Colchester United a narrow win at Morecambe this afternoon.

Senior came up trumps in the dying seconds of the first half, and the 21-year-old’s close-range effort proved the only difference between the two sides, although John McGreal’s men did have to defend in depth during the second period.

This was the first time this season that the U’s had recorded back-to-back wins in League Two, following on from last Saturday’s 3-1 home victory over Crawley Town, so cementing their position in the top seven.

It was a first half of few chances, although the U’s did pepper the target early on.

Frankie Kent, back in the starting line-up in a three-man central defence, saw a header drift wide on four minutes, while wing-back Kane Vincent-Young ballooned a shot over the bar just two minutes later.

Otherwise, it was very cagey game with both sides struggling to get in the ascendancy, until the visitors scored out-of-the-blue on the stroke of half-time.

Senior was in the right place to divert home a cross by Harry Pell, on the 45-minute mark.

The U’s were under the cosh for most of the second-half, with their defence coming under increasing pressure.

Veteran front-runner Kevin Ellison should have bagged the equalised on 58 minutes, only to blast over the bar with the goal beckoning from Vadaine Oliver’s cross.

It was Oliver’s turn to go close in the 64th minute. He beat keeper Rene Gilmartin but saw his header cannon back off the bar.

Livewire Oliver was denied again, with five minutes remaining, as his goalbound shot was blocked.

COLCHESTER: Gilmartin, Eastman, Prosser, Kent, Jackson, Pell, Lapslie (sub Comley, 87), Vincent-Young (sub Dickenson, 77), Senior (sub Collins, 72), Nouble, Norris. Unused subs; Barnes, Kensdale, Wright, Mandron.

Attendance: 1,839