Ten-man Colchester United claimed their first victory of the season this afternoon after claiming a hugely impressive 2-0 victory at Leyton Orient.

The U's were reduced to ten men just before half-time when skipper Magnus Okuonghae was sent off for serious foul play.

But second-half goals from Sanchez Watt and Freddie Sears gave Colchester a fantastic win at Brisbane Road against the odds, clinching Tony Humes his first win as the club's manager.

Leyton Orient had the better of the play in the first half and looked the more dangerous in front of goal.

Darius Henderson’s effort flashed wide at the near post, while former U’s striker David Mooney saw his shot deflected wide after Henderson had helped on Nathan Clark’s accurate cross.

Orient felt they should have had a penalty six minutes before the break when Mathieu Baudry went down under goalkeeper Sam Walker’s challenge in the area, after Okuonghae had sliced Chris Dagnall’s cross inside the area.

And things got worse for Okuonghae just before half-time when he was dismissed for a foul on Mooney, just inside the U’s half.

As a result, Colchester were left to play more than half the game with only ten men and centre-back Frankie Kent was sent on in place of Sammie Szmodics.

The U’s had a difficult task on their hands but came out positively for the second half.

Gavin Massey side-footed a good chance wide and Sears was denied by O’s goalkeeper Gary Woods before Colchester took the lead in the 63rd minute through Watt, who raced onto Sears’ pass to slot confidently into the net.

Walker made a fine save to deny Shane Lowry after that but the U’s doubled their lead with 17 minutes remaining through Sears, who dispossessed Mathieu Baudry in the area before firing a low shot past Woods.

Walker made another good save to foil Henderson late on but this was the U’s afternoon.

For five pages of coverage of the U's fine win at Leyton Orient, see Monday's Daily Gazette.