COLCHESTER United moved into the JobServe Community Stadium for the first time in the summer of 2008.

And since then, they have played their part in some cracking games, at the venue.

The Gazette's U's reporter Jon Waldron looks back on ten of the best matches to take place at Colchester United's home ground, since their move from Layer Road.

COLCHESTER UNITED 5

CARLISLE UNITED 0

League One, October 25, 2008

COLCHESTER recorded their first-ever win at the stadium in style when they put Carlisle United to the sword.

Midfielder David Perkins got Geraint Williams' side off to a fine start with an early goal and a brace from winger Mark Yeates had put them in full command by half-time.

There was no respite for John Ward's Cumbrians after the break and late strikes from captain Dean Hammond and substitute Sunday Wasiu capped a memorable day for U’s fans.

ATTENDANCE: 5,152

COLCHESTER UNITED 3

SWINDON TOWN 2

League One, March 10, 2009

CLIVE Platt scored twice as Colchester United overcame Swindon Town in a five-goal thriller.

Platt struck after only 70 seconds to give the U’s the lead. Simon Cox levelled from the spot after Billy Paynter had been fouled in the area but Platt headed in before half-time to make it 2-1.

Hal Robson-Kanu got the Robins back on level terms.

But Colchester had the last laugh in a superb game when David Perkins drove in off the post from ten yards.

ATTENDANCE: 3,827

COLCHESTER UNITED 2

GILLINGHAM 1

League One, August 18, 2009

THERE was a surreal atmosphere at the Community Stadium for the U’s game with Gillingham, following the shock departure of manager Paul Lambert and his assistants Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa to Norwich City just hours beforehand.

But by the final whistle the venue was rocking as a Colchester side led by caretaker manager Joe Dunne came from behind to beat the Gills.

Curtis Weston gave the Kent side the lead after 11 minutes but Scott Vernon equalised, seven minutes before the break.

And Kevin Lisbie latched onto Vernon’s pass to score the U’s winner and leave an emotionally-charged Community Stadium crowd ecstatic.

ATTENDANCE: 4,849

COLCHESTER UNITED 3

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0

League One, September 29, 2009

COLCHESTER United blew fellow in-form side Charlton Athletic away on a superb night of football at the Community Stadium.

The U’s played some scintillating attacking football against the Addicks to record their fourth win out of five on home territory.

Miguel Angel Llera put through his own net to give Colchester the lead just before the half-hour mark.

And the unplayable Kayode Odejayi scored twice before the end to maintain Aidy Boothroyd’s side’s excellent start to the 2009-10 season.

ATTENDANCE: 7,098

COLCHESTER UNITED 4

BRADFORD CITY 3

FA Cup first round, November 6, 2010

THE U’s finally prevailed over League Two side Bradford City in a high-scoring thriller.

Colchester were ahead three times in an entertaining first-round tie but were pushed all the way by Peter Taylor’s Bantams.

Andy Bond and David Mooney twice gave Colchester the lead in the first half, only for James Hanson and David Syers to peg them back.

Brian Wilson curled in a fine free-kick after the break to make it 3-2 and Mooney scored the U’s fourth soon after.

And although Hanson pulled another goal back for Bradford before the end, John Ward’s side prevailed.

ATTENDANCE: 2,736

COLCHESTER UNITED 5

EXETER CITY 1

League One, March 26, 2011

A BRACE from Steven Gillespie helped Colchester United put nine-man Exeter City to the sword.

The Grecians took the lead midway through the first half through Daniel Nardiello’s close-range strike.

However, Gillespie soon equalised and Steve Tully’s dismissal nine minutes before the break left the visitors with only ten men.

The contest was finely balanced after that but when Exeter’s Scott Golbourne was sent off with 18 minutes to go for denying a goalscoring opportunity after bringing Ashley Vincent down, the tide suddenly turned.

Three goals in the space of four minutes from Vincent, Gillespie and David Mooney set the U’s on their way.

And when Andy Bond lashed in a fifth with four minutes to go, Colchester’s emphatic win was complete.

ATTENDANCE: 3,629

COLCHESTER UNITED 4

WALSALL 4

League One, October 24, 2015

ANYONE at the Community Stadium to witness this cracker would not forget it in a hurry.

Colchester United trailed 2-0 after half an hour, following goals from Romaine Sawyers and Milan Lalkovic.

But strikes from George Moncur and Marvin Sordell got the U's back into the game before the break.

George Evans restored the Saddlers' lead just before the hour mark but Owen Garvan quickly equalised, to make it 3-3.

When Darren Ambrose put Colchester ahead with ten minutes to go but James O'Connor rescued a point for Walsall with a stoppage-time equaliser.

ATTENDANCE: 3,630

COLCHESTER UNITED 1

PRESTON NORTH END 0

League One, May 3, 2015

THE odds were stacked against relegation-haunted Colchester United when they went into their final game of the League One season.

The U's knew that they needed to not only beat Preston North End - who had gone 18 matches unbeaten and knew a win would secure them automatic promotion - but also hope three other results went their way.

Tony Humes' side produced a superb performance but for a while, it looked like their season would end in disappointment after Chris Porter missed a penalty.

But with eight minutes to go, George Moncur popped up to score a dramatic winner for the U's and keep them up in the most dramatic of circumstances.

ATTENDANCE: 8,413

COLCHESTER UNITED 6

CREWE ALEXANDRA 0

League Two, August 21, 2018

COLCHESTER United had gone into the game on the back of an unbeaten start to the season.

But the U's took their campaign on to a whole new level under the lights with a thumping win over Alex.

Goals in the opening eight minutes through Frankie Kent and Brennan Dickenson put Colchester into a two-goal lead.

Dickenson made it 3-0 midway through the first half and Ryan Jackson doubled the U's lead, just before the hour mark.

Things got even better for Colchester with two goals in the space of three minutes through Luke Norris and Tom Lapslie, as they recorded a comprehensive victory.

Attendance: 2,842

COLCHESTER UNITED 0

SPURS 0

U'S WON 4-3 ON PENALTIES

Carabao Cup third round, September 25, 2019

THE Community Stadium erupted with joy and ecstasy after Colchester United pulled off a massive shock, in the Carabao Cup.

The odds were stacked against the U's, with Mauricio Pochettino fielding a strong Spurs starting line-up including the likes of Eric Dier, Lucas Moura and Dele Alli.

But Colchester contained their visitors superbly and after the tie finished goal-less after 90 minutes, it went to penalties.

Moura and Christian Eriksen both missed from the spot for Spurs and Tom Lapslie converted the winning spot-kick to send the stadium into raptures.

ATTENDANCE: 9,481