Peterborough United 0 Colchester United 2 Freddie Sears chalked up his 14th goal of the season, and Elliott Hewitt celebrated his first goal for Colchester United, in a superb away win at Peterborough United.

Freddie Sears chalked up his 14th goal of the season, and Elliott Hewitt celebrated his first goal for Colchester United, in a superb away win at Peterborough United this afternoon.

It was a slick break for the U’s opening goal, netted by marksman Sears in the 54th minute.

Sam Walker threw the ball out quickly and Sean Clohessy tore down the right wing before whipping over a low cross for Sears to coolly sweep home at the near post.

And the U’s wrapped up the points in the 85th minute, thanks to a fine solo goal by Hewitt.

The Ipswich Town loanee burst down the right flank on a strong run before crashing in a 25-yard drive which flew into the bottom corner of the net. It was a lethal finish.

The U’s stay in the relegation zone, but this should be a morale-boosting away victory for Tony Humes’ men.

The U’s had showed two changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Cardiff City in the FA Cup last Friday week.

New signing Alex Wynter, recruited on a permanent deal from Crystal Palace, went straight into the side at left-back, while Sanchez Watt replaced Gavin Massey on the left wing. Massey was feeling slightly under the weather, and so was only on the bench.

Posh dictated the early stages and threatened Walker’s goal twice in the fifth minute.

In fact, Walker had to be at his best to arch back and claw Erhun Oztumer’s ferocious drive over the bar, before skipper Michael Bostwick stabbed inches wide from the ensuing corner.

The U’s were struggling to get out of their own half, although Freddie Sears did engineer a rare break which ended with his shot being deflected wide off a defender.

Otherwise, Darren Ferguson’s men were in the driving seat. Another long-range shot by the diminutive Oztumer forced Walker into another save, although the U’s keeper spilled the ball. The lurking Joe Newell scooped the rebound over the bar from point blank range.

On 20 minutes, left-back Ngosi Ntlhe managed to sneak beyond Sean Clohessy and cross low into the danger zone. Walker again did not save cleanly, but was able to mop up the loose ball before a home striker could pounce.

Walker was in the action again in the 27th minute, although this time he held onto Newell’s low shot with a degree of comfort.

The U’s began to enjoy a little more possession after the half-hour mark and Hewitt set up Sanchez Watt with a good chance on 38 minutes, only for the winger to pull shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

Watt was in the action again in the last minute of the first period. He appeared to be impeded by right-back Michael Smith, on the edge of the six-yard box, but referee Jeremy Simpson waved play on.

Kaspars Gorkss, who had signed a new short-term deal yesterday, chopped down Ntlhe in a dangerous position in the 49th minute. But Bostwick aimed the free-kick straight at Walker, who caught the ball under his bar.

Four minutes later and striker Luke James looked set to bundle home the loose ball, after a goalmouth scramble inside the U’s box, but he was thwarted by a superb last ditch tackle by David Fox.

And it was the U’s who took the lead on 54 minutes, thanks to Sears’ slick finish from Clohessy’s low delivery.

Posh searched for a quickfire equaliser and, following some intense pressure, substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing cracked in a shot that was deflected wide by the lunging Hewitt.

And it was Hewitt who made the game safe with a killer second goal, with five minutes remaining.

PETERBOROUGH: Alnwick, Smith, Bostwick, Burgess, Ntlhe, Payne, Oztumer, Newell (sub Mclean, 74), Beautyman (sub Mendez-Laing, 58), Maddison (subWashington, 58) James. Unused subs: Henry, Brisley, Vassell, Anderson.

COLCHESTER: Walker, Clohessy, Eastman, Gorkss, Wynter, Fox, Moncur, Szmodics, Hewitt (sub Massey, 87), Sears (sub Healey, 74), Watt. Unused subs: Lewington, Bonne, Lapslie, Sembie-Ferrris, Kpekawa.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancs)