Town came from a goal down to beat Colchester 3-2, despite ending the game with 10 men. The U's controversially went ahead after Clarke had been denied a goal but Lee (pen), Legwinski and Haynes put Town ahead before the U's pulled one back from the spot, Wright having been red-carded for handball.

The Blues lined-up as expected with Billy Clarke replacing Danny Haynes and David Wright coming in for Fabian Wilnis for his home debut. New signing George O'Callaghan was on the bench.

The away section was full for what U's fans see as a derby even if most Town supporters see the game somewhat differently. That said, the attendance of 28,355 was the Blues' highest of the season so far.

Alan Lee almost seized on a weak back-pass in the sixth minute as the game began in windy conditions. Colchester keeper Dean Gerken reacted quickly to claim the ball.

Price saved from Karl Duguid on seven, then at the other end Clarke headed a Gary Roberts corner wide at the far post.

On 12 Jaime Peters cleverly flicked the ball up and volleyed from the edge of the box, clipping the roof of the net with Gerken well beaten.

The first of a number of controversial moments came in the 15th minute. A clever interchange between Lee and Clarke saw the youngster one-on-one with Gerken. Clarke slipped the ball past the keeper and across the line off defender Garry Richards, however, with a number of Town players already celebrating, the referee and linesman failed to indicate a goal.

Several of the Blues were distracted by referee Graham Laws's failure to give the goal and with David Wright in particular out of position, Colchester broke down their left flank. Hogan Ephraim played the ball inside to Karl Duguid, whose shot beat Price to put the visitors in front. Billy Clarke took issue with the linesman and received a yellow card for his trouble, while several other Town players spoke to the referee.

With Colchester fans becoming evident in Town sections of the ground, the Blues went looking for an equaliser. Gerken tipped Roberts's freekick wide, then Bruce's header from a corner was headed from under the bar by Kevin Watson. At the other end, Watson shot wide, referee Laws inexplicably awarding a corner.

Lee and Legwinski got in one another's way from a Roberts cross and the ball was sent over the bar, prior to Price saving from Iwelumo.

Town had dominated the game and Colchester's lead was very much against the run of play. The Blues continued to push for the equaliser, winning a succession of freekicks, Williams coming close with a curled effort which went just wide.

The Blues finally got on terms in the 29th minute. Lee was pulled back by Richards as a Williams cross came into the box, referee Laws for once ruling in favour of Town. After a lengthy delay, Lee himself took the spotkick, rolling the ball down the centre of the goal and into the net.

The freekicks kept coming, Roberts first going wide, then hitting the bar with a subsequent strike. In injury time, Legwinski headed a deflected Roberts cross into the arms of Gerken.

At the whistle, Town players again surrounded the referee, complaining about poor challenges on Jaime Peters and Alan Lee which went unpunished, in addition to the goal incident. On the balance of play, the Blues deserved to be in a goal of two in front, although their cause hadn't been helped by weak and inconsistent refereeing.

Town went ahead nine minutes into the new period, Legwinski heading in Williams's corner at the near post for his fifth goal of the season.

Colchester showed more attacking endeavour after going behind but chances were rare at both ends. On 66 Lee sent a looping effort just wide. Danny Haynes replaced Billy Clarke alongside Lee.

Three minutes later, Iwelumo had the ball in the Town net, but the flag had already been raised.

Haynes was close to finding Peters inside the area in the 72nd minute, before a Roberts corner led to a goalmouth scramble, Lee having a number of efforts blocked prior to the danger being cleared.

Former Blue Wayne Brown received a yellow card which had been coming for a while for a foul on Lee in the 80th minute. From Williams's freekick, Naylor laid the ball back to Peters but the Canadian shot over.

Brown misjudged the bounce of the ball soon after and Haynes was through on goal but, after taking the ball wide, hit a shot which Gerken parried wide. But Haynes didn't have to wait too long for a goal. Peters played the ball into the striker's path, Haynes taking it on into the area before beating Gerken.

New signing O'Callaghan replaced Lee for the final four minutes, then, as the game entered injury time, Matt Richards took over from Gary Roberts.

The game looked to be dead and buried until Wright blocked Iwelumo's close-range strike on the line, referee Laws deciding that the recent signing had deliberately handled, awarding a Colchester a penalty and sending off the Town defender.

The Scottish striker scored with a spotkick similar to Lee's, Gavin Williams picking up a yellow card for protesting. Some reports suggest Richard Naylor was also yellow-carded, which if confirmed, would see the central defender suspended for next week's FA Cup tie against Swansea. The Blues are already without Jason De Vos (injured), Ian Miller (cup-tied), Alex Bruce (suspended) and David Wright (suspended, pending an appeal) for the visit of the Swans.

An eventful, often chaotic, game which the Blues deserved to win more comfortably. Town were on the wrong end of some very poor refereeing and linesmanship against a niggly Colchester side.

Peters was again impressive on the right of midfield, gaining confidence as the game progressed, while Lee and Haynes will be pleased to have got on the scoresheet after barren runs in front of goal in recent months.

Town: Price, Wright, Harding, Naylor, Bruce, Legwinski, Williams, Roberts (Richards 90), Peters, Lee (O'Callaghan 86), Clarke (Haynes 66). Unused: Supple, Wilnis. Att: 28,355.

Photo: Action Images

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