LEAGUE ONE Cochester United 2 Brentford 1

STEVEN Gillespie saved Karl Duguid’s momentous night with two goals in two minutes to claim an unlikely victory.

The striker leapt off the bench to hit home in the 85th and 87th minute as the U’s claimed back-to-back wins.

And Colchester stalwart Duguid will breathe a sigh of relief after his 400th league appearance for the club almost ended in defeat – after he gave away a penalty allowing Brentford to take the lead.

But Gillespie’s quick-fire double, and a decent debut cameo from fellow sub Keith Rowlands, sent the home fans happy – even if the U’s never really got going for 70 minutes.

After a dismal first half, Brentford took the lead when Duguid tripped Jake Bidwell in the 56th minute and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Gary Alexander’s spot kick was expertly parried away by Ben Williams but after the U’s failed to clear the rebound, the ball fell to Niall McGinn who volleyed in from 12 yards.

But Colchester rallied in the final 20 minutes and after finally creating some decent chances, Gillespie grabbed an equaliser five minutes from time, getting enough on the rebound after Anthony Wordsworth had cracked a shot against the crossbar.

And just 120 seconds later, Gillespie picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and thought nothing of trying his luck, the ball squirming horribly away from keeper Richard Lee for the striker’s second in two minutes and three points in the bag to send Colchester up to 11th in League One.

- For a full match report and John Ward’s post-match reaction to the U’s performance and goal hero Gillespie, buy tomorrow’s East Anglian Daily Times