Colchester United 2 Cheltenham Town 0

Colchester United continued their surge up the League Two table with a hard-fought home win over relegation-threatened Cheltenham Town this afternoon.

Tom Eastman scored early on, after 10 minutes, and it remained a 1-0 score-line until Brennan Dickenson rammed home an 84th minute beauty to extend the U’s superb recent run to six wins from their last seven matches.

Centre-half Eastman broke the deadlock with a header from a narrow angle.

The big man’s looping effort, from Owen Garvan’s deep free kick beyond the far post, ended up in the roof of the net despite keeper Russell Griffiths getting a hand to the ball.

It was his third goal of the season.

The U’s had several chances to add to their tally in the first half, with the returning Chris Porter having three clear sights of goals.

Each time Porter aimed his efforts straight at keeper Griffiths.

Cheltenham improved after the break and the U’s were left hanging on at times for their win, Sam Walker making one terrific save to claw away Billy Waters’ header from under his bar.

But John McGreal’s men dug deep, against a robust, feisty Robins outfit, to make it 19 points from a possible 21, in their last seven league fixtures.

The afternoon was complete when an on-fire Dickenson, teed up by Porter, thumped an unstoppable left-footed drive into the roof of the net, from just inside the box.

It was Dickenson’s seventh goal of the season, and it sealed another fine victory.

Squads

COLCHESTER: Walker, Eastman, Kent, Elokobi, Brindley (sub Wright, 75), Lapslie, Garvan, Dickenson, Slater (sub Fosu, 80), Guthrie, Porter (sub Bonne, (90+1). Unused subs: Barnes, Vincent-Young, Wynter, Doyley.

CHELTENHAM: Griffiths, Dickie, O’Shaughnessy, Onariase, Cranston, Waters, Pell, Rowe, Morgan-Smith (sub Dayton, 64), Holman (sub Wright, 64), Girolamo (sub Munns, 88). Unused subs: Kitscha, Barthram, Storer, Parslow.

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 3,840 (126 away fans)