Cole Skuse’s late goal sealed victory at Rochdale and lifted Colchester clear of the relegation zone in League Two.
The visitors took the lead in the 26th minute when John Akinde held off his keepers to head out Noah Chilvers’ free kick. The big forward, with his back to goal, laid the ball to the oncoming Junior Tchamadeu and hammered it into the roof of Jake Eastwood’s net.
The home side equalized in the 35th minute after Aidy White dispossessed Ian Henderson and, while Kieran O’Hara managed to save his shot, Devante Rodney pounced on the rebound to slot the ball into the net.
James Ball squandered a glorious chance for Rochdale after the break, firing straight at O’Hara after being played clear by Rodney.
Rodney himself was denied by O’Hara before a goalkeeping error gave Colchester all three points in the 87th minute.
Skuse slid off the turf in front of Eastwood after a 25-yard strike and the goalkeeper, who returned to the club on a second loan from Sheffield United on Friday, allowed the ball to squirm under him and over the goal line.
Match report provided by PA Media.
They set up
Rochdale
Forming 5-3-2
- 21Eastwood
- 11I’m leavingReplaced bySinclairon 85′minute
- 5Taylor
- 6Ebanks-Landell
- 15GrahamReplaced byQuigleyon 72′minute
- 3WhiteBooked in 63 minutesReplaced byIvanon 69′minute
- 25Lloyd-McGoldrickReplaced byDiagouragaon 73′minuteBooked for 90 min
- 7Kelly
- 13KeohaneReplaced byCampbellon 90+1′minute
- 10Rodney
- 40HendersonReplaced byBallon 72′minute
Substitutions
- 1O’Donnell
- 8Ball
- 17Sinclair
- 18Quigley
- 19Campbell
- 20Diagouraga
- 24Ivan
Colchester
Forming 3-4-1-2
- 13O’Hara
- 4Chambers
- 5SmithReplaced byHallon 80′minute
- 6Dallison-Lisbon
- 22To Tchamadeu
- 8Try it
- 17AshleyReplaced byJayon 65′minuteBooked in 67 minutes
- 23WoodReplaced byKelleheron 90+3′minute
- 14ChilversReplaced byReadon 65′minute
- 24Kinda
- 34TovideReplaced byHannanton 80′minute
Substitutions
- 1Hornby
- 7Hannant
- 11Sears
- 15Kelleher
- 16Read
- 20Jay
- 29Hall
Live text
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Full time, Rochdale 1, Colchester United 2.
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End of second half, Rochdale 1, Colchester United 2.
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Devante Rodney (Rochdale) commits a foul.
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John Akinde (Colchester United) takes the free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Cameron John (Rochdale).
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John Akinde (Colchester United) takes the free kick on the right wing.
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Toumani Diagouraga (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Toumani Diagourage (Rochdale).
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Luke Hannant (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Colchester United. Fiacre Kelleher replaces Connor Wood.
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Offside, Colchester United. Junior Tchamadeu tries to cross but John Akinde is caught in the backfield.
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Foul by Liam Kelly (Rochdale).
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Luke Hannant (Colchester United) takes a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Rochdale. Tahvon Campbell replaces Jimmy Keohane.
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Devante Rodney (Rochdale) commits a foul.
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Connor Hall (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Rochdale 1, Colchester United 2. Cole Skuse (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. He was assisted by John Akinde.
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Substitution, Rochdale. Tyrese Sinclair replaces Abraham Odoh.
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Corner, Rochdale. Submitted by Kieran O’Hara.
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Attempt saved. Devante Rodney (Rochdale) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top center of the goal. He was assisted by Liam Kelly.