Danny Cowley delighted as John Terry helps put Colchester in headlines

Danny Cowley is pleased to see Colchester in the national limelight after they beat Accrington 2-1 in front of the watching John Terry.

Former Chelsea and England captain Terry was in attendance following reports he is part of a consortium in discussions to buy Colchester and watched Jack Payne fire home an 86th-minute winner from substitute Romeo Akachukwu’s cutback.

Accrington had taken a 33rd-minute lead when Shaun Whalley collected Devon Matthews’ pass before striking low past Matt Macey and into the far corner.

Colchester, who had hit the woodwork early on through Harry Anderson, equalised in the 43rd minute when Will Goodwin bent home a fine shot from Owura Edwards’ pass before Payne’s late goal won it.

Us boss Cowley said: “We didn’t expect to be front page of The Sun on Monday morning – it’s great coverage for the football club.

“It’s a football club that’s dear to my heart, so it’s so good to see us in the headlines.

“It’s really hard to win three games in a row at any level so for us to do that at this time of the season speaks volumes for the group. It was a really deserved win.

“In the first half, we played really well for the first 30 minutes, then we concede against the run of play which has happened to us before this season with probably their first entry into our box.

“But it was a good response – we kept playing and it was a great finish from Will Goodwin.

“I’m so pleased for Romeo (Akachukwu) – he cut the ball back and Jack Payne is there with the finish.”

Accrington had their chances, with Charlie Brown and Luke Butterfield going close in the second half, and boss John Doolan said: “I’m disappointed we lost the game.

“They scored just before half-time and then a late one but you couldn’t question what the lads produced, defending the box and attacking in the box.

“I was proud of them that way, standing up to things and it could have been different had we taken our chances, especially in the first half.

“We started well – we know how they play, we know the structure and we know their set-up and their individual players, and the lads stood up to them.

“I just think we were careless at times when we did break – just that selection of pass or we overhit things.

“But when we did get it right, we should have taken the opportunities but we didn’t.

“We scored a great goal through Shaun Whalley. It was just disappointing because we’ve got to go the end, but the lads gave it everything.”