Andy Woodman wants more from Bromley despite extending lead at top of League Two

Andy Woodman demanded even more from Bromley as they stretched their lead at the top of Sky Bet League Two to five points and their unbeaten run to 21 league games.

A solitary goal from Nicke Kabamaba, his 12th of the season, was all the Ravens needed to win the game and move a step closer to automatic promotion.

Woodman said: “It was tough for the first 20 minutes and we weren’t very effective in the first half in general. It’s why we changed personnel at half-time.

“I thought Zech Medley was immense for us and showed why we signed him on loan. Similarly Marcus Dinanga, despite not being involved for a lot of the season, has been a great pro and trained brilliantly. He has come in and run his socks off.

“All that said, as much as we have momentum on our side and things seem to be falling our way, it’s just another game. Barrow away is our next fixture and that is just as big. That is not going to be an easy tie. We have to keep taking care of our business.”

Colchester got off to a lightning start inside the opening quarter as Kane Vincent-Young drew a smart save from Grant Smith.

Smith then denied Harry Anderson’s curling effort before Arthur Read saw his effort cleared off the line and Kyrece Lisbie’s follow-up hit a post.

Jaden Williams then saw his swivelled shot flash narrowly past a post as Colchester continued to dominate.

Nine minutes before the interval, Matt Macey did brilliantly to tip away Nicke Kabamba’s header, but it was Ashley Charles who went closest for the Ravens as he smashed his volley against the crossbar.

Marcus Dinanga saw his toe-poked effort tipped over the bar by Macey as the sides continued to trade blows, while at the other end, Williams saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line by Idris Odutayo.

Kabamba forced Macey into a fine save with 20 minutes to go, but the goalkeeper could do nothing about the winning goal as the Bromley striker turned home from close range.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley said: “We’re disappointed that we didn’t get anything today, but our performance was brilliant.

“We had so much control of the football and played really good football against a really good team.

“But credit to Bromley, you don’t get to where they are in the league without being very well organised and knowing how to find a way to win, and that’s what top teams do.

“We are probably a nearly team at the moment and Bromley have shown us a bit of what we need to have for next season.

“All that said we thought we got the tactics right today, Jaden Williams was brilliant up front – we deliberately didn’t match up to Bromley’s physicality and tried to overload them in key areas – but for some of our finishing, it would have paid off.”