Match ends, Colchester United 4, Doncaster Rovers 1.
ColchesterColchester United4DoncasterDoncaster Rovers1
Colchester United scored four goals in a stirring second-half display as they fought back to beat Doncaster and climb off the bottom of the League One table.
Debutant loan signing Gary McSheffrey put Rovers ahead in a drab first half, running through and calmly slotting in.
The U's did not manage a shot on target but were rampant in the second period and Chris Porter's strike made it 1-1.
A Elliott Lee curler and Alex Gilbey's fine strike earned a commanding lead before Richard Brindley sealed victory.
Doncaster would have moved out of the relegation zone with a win following Blackpool's draw with Bury and seemed well set after McSheffrey's cool finish.
But Colchester's astonishing second-half response earned just a seventh league win of a miserable season to take them above Crewe, who lost to Sheffield United.
Line-ups
Colchester
Formation 4-3-3
- 33Parish
- 4EdwardsBooked at 33mins
- 18Eastman
- 32ChambersSubstituted forKentat 16'minutes
- 31Shorey
- 2GarvanBooked at 43mins
- 8Gilbey
- 10Moncur
- 11Massey
- 9PorterSubstituted forBonneat 83'minutes
- 12LeeSubstituted forBrindleyat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Wright
- 15Kent
- 19Bonne
- 20Lapslie
- 24Brindley
- 25Barnes
- 28Ambrose
Doncaster
Formation 4-4-2
- 42Matthews
- 3EvinaSubstituted forMackenzieat 65'minutes
- 38Alcock
- 6Butler
- 20Taylor-Sinclair
- 26CoppingerSubstituted forCalderat 74'minutes
- 29Middleton
- 24Rowe
- 27StewartSubstituted forWilliamsat 67'minutes
- 14Tyson
- 7McSheffrey
Substitutes
- 8Chaplow
- 11Williams
- 12Stuckmann
- 17Mackenzie
- 18Keegan
- 21Mandeville
- 37Calder
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 3,771
Match Stats
Home TeamColchesterAway TeamDoncaster
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home2
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 4, Doncaster Rovers 1.
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Alex Gilbey.
Post update
Joe Edwards (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nathan Tyson (Doncaster Rovers).
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 4, Doncaster Rovers 1. Richard Brindley (Colchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Aaron Taylor-Sinclair.
Post update
Foul by Nicky Shorey (Colchester United).
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Riccardo Calder (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Macauley Bonne replaces Chris Porter.
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Joe Edwards (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Nathan Tyson (Doncaster Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Richard Brindley replaces Elliot Lee.
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Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Riccardo Calder.
Post update
Attempt missed. George Moncur (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Riccardo Calder replaces James Coppinger.
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 3, Doncaster Rovers 1. Alex Gilbey (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 2, Doncaster Rovers 1. Elliot Lee (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Nicky Shorey.
Post update
Chris Porter (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andy Butler (Doncaster Rovers).
