Colchester 0 Bradford City 2: Hanson and Bennett fire Bantams to win

Freddie Sears had a couple of early chances for Colchester but failed to hit the target and City broke the deadlock after 16 minutes when Matty Dolan’s right-wing corner was headed home at the far post by James Hanson.

Kyle Bennett ran 20 yards before curling an effort well wide of the home goal and Aaron Mclean was denied by goalkeeper Sam Walker as City looked for a second.

At the other end, Andrew Davies threw himself in front of Gavin Massey’s effort and David Wright fired wide from distance.

Mclean should have doubled City’s advantage, but the striker pulled his shot across goal before Davies rose well to meet Adam Drury’s free-kick only to see the ball bounce wide.

City finally increased their lead after 56 minutes when Bennett cut in from the right and lashed the ball home.

Colchester thought they had pulled one back when Marcus Bean had the ball in the net, but he had used his hand to beat Jon McLaughlin and was booked.

Adam Reach was denied by the goalkeeper and Alex Gilbey’s long-range effort late on for Colchester was greeted with ironic cheers from the home fans.

Colchester United: Walker; Wilson, Dickson, Okuonghae, Eastman; Wright, Sears, Bean (Gilbey 73), Massey; Watt, Morrison (Bonne 73). Unused substitutes: Cousins, Eastmond, Olufemi, Vose, Sesay.

Bradford City: McLaughlin; Darby, Drury (McHugh 86), McArdle, Davies; Doyle, Dolan, Bennett (Thompson 80), Reach; Mclean, Hanson. Unused substitutes: Bentley, Gray, Yeates, Bates, Atkinson.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northants).