Colchester United 0 Charlton Athletic 2

Second to your boss calling you into his office to give you an unexpected pay rise, listening to Charlton win away from home sat at your desk with ear phones discreetly tucked into one’s ears is a bloody nice way to spend an afternoon at work.

Apart from just a couple heart in mouth moments (mostly from corners and without the benefit of pictures) the commentary team on Player gave me an excellent description of an impressive and confident away victory this evening. This at a ground, well two grounds actually, where we had never previously won a league match, although I was at Layer Road many moons ago to see us very fortunately win in the cup. But why ruin a good stat?

I think a lot of us were thinking that tonight was a really difficult test. Colchester had scored 8 goals so far this season but that first half performance sounded, and has since been confirmed by onlookers, a devastating display of attacking football.

BWP for me has already come alive this season. With Hayes becoming a perfect foil, and with the supply of Stephens, Jackson and Hollands plus the pace of Wagstaff, BWP showed with that first goal a goalscoring instinct not often seen at this level.

He should have had a hat trick, but for a number of saves by Colchester’s keeper. Hayes got a wonderful reception when he was substituted, which was affirmation of the compliments he received from the commentary team. Wagstaff too played like a man possessed, again, and the back four stood firm to some expected second half pressure.

But, by the end with almost 2,000 noisy traveling Addicks making the Weston Homes Community Stadium sound like a little corner of London, SE7 we not only closed the game out, but we threatened to increase the score further.

43 games to go.

Addicks at the Weston Homes Community Stadium: Drinking During the Game; And Nothing Else Matters; Doctor Kish
Powell-ometer: Unchanged team, but he brought on the subs at a good time. The entrance of Hughes and Euell would have brought key stability and experience to the side. Another important factor was that we started both halves really positively.
Elsewhere: Sheffield United were two-down at home to Walsall with half an hour left but won 3-2. Tranmere lost their 100% record conceding a 97th minute penalty at Meadow Lane. “That was the best performance since I’ve come here as manager especially after Saturday where we were pretty pants.” said Martin Allen. MK won away again, this time 1-0 at Yeovil, Orient are still without a point losing at home 3-1 to Wycombe, Huddersfield were held at Hartlepool, whilst Wednesday lost on the road at Bury.