Colchester United 2 Exeter City 0

COLCHESTER United cast aside their Boxing Day blues to record a comfortable home victory over struggling Exeter City this season.

Hammered 6-1 at home by Stevenage on Monday, John Ward’s men bounced back in style to end 2011 on a winning note.

Anthony Wordsworth broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, with his ninth goal of the season, and Andy Bond bagged the all-important second on 61 minutes.

Exeter’s fate was sealed two minutes later, when defender Danny Coles was sent off for denying Karl Duguid a scoring opportunity.

Wordsworth, back in the side after a one-match ban, did not take long to make an impact.

The classy midfielder put the finishing touches to a slick move, one of the best match, to hand the U’s an early lead.

Bond released Ian Henderson with a neat pass and the ex-Norwich man picked out the onrushing Wordsworth, who found the back of the net with a first-time shot from the edge of the box.

And Wordsworth was close to doubling United’s lead on 23 minutes. He pounced onto a stray pass by defender Coles, inside the penalty area, but could not squeeze his shot past keeper Artur Krysiak, who saved low down.

Exeter had only won one away game all season, but they nearly equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Jake Taylor homed in on goal, benefiting from David Noble’s pass, only to see his goalbound shot blocked by the onrushing Ben Williams. Guillem Bauza sliced the rebound wide.

The Grecians started the second half brightly and Taylor was again unlucky with an angled drive that was deflected wide of target.

But Exeter’s resistance was broken by a double blow, just after the hour mark.

First Bond struck with the U’s second goal. Steven Gillespie was the creator with some good work down the right, before cutting the ball back for Bond, who crashed a curling 15-yard shot into the roof of the net.

It was only Bond’s second league goal of the season.

Two minutes later and the visitors were reduced to 10 men. Defender Danny Coles gave away the ball to Duguid, and then chopped down the U’s winger as he prepared to race into the box.

Referee Phil Gibbs had no option but to send off Coles, because he had denied Duguid a clear scoring opportunity.

It was therefore a comfortable final quarter of the game for the U’s, who now prepare for an away game at MK Dons on Monday.

Squads

COLCHESTER UNITED: Williams, Wilson, Okuonghae, Heath (sub Eastman, 55), White, James, Wordsworth, Bond, Duguid (sub Coker, 79) Gillespie, Henderson. Unused subs: O’Toole, Izzet, Odejayi.

EXETER CITY: Krysiak, Duffy, Archibald-Henville, Golbourne, Coles, Dunne, Sercombe, Noble, Bauza (sub Tully, 66), Taylor, Hackett (sub Nardiello, 19, sub O’Flynn, 76). Unused subs: Logan, Pidgeley.

Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands)

Attendance: 3,667