Notts County 2-0 Colchester United

Ronan Murray’s fifth goal in four games helped Notts County record their third consecutive victory as they emerged from League One’s relegation zone.

Haydn Hollis also got onto the scoresheet with a powerful headed effort as the hosts fought valiantly during the second half to keep their first clean sheet in five games and move up into 19th.

Colchester now find themselves just three points above County after their third defeat in six, unable to capitalise on a strong first-half performance to earn even a consolation goal.

Manager Joe Dunne had made three changes to the side that lost 4-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers, as Alie Sesay, Craig Eastmond and Gavin Massey made way for Brian Wilson, Marcus Bean and Freddie Sears.

But County, who made only one alteration as Curtis Thompson was replaced by Mustapha Dumbuya, had drawn first blood after only five minutes.

Murray coolly slotted home into the bottom left-hand corner from a pacey burst to the edge of the area, notching his ninth goal of the season in the process.

Hollis’ header, directing a perfectly-delivered Alan Sheehan free-kick after Wilson had fouled Jack Grealish, came on the stroke of half time to give County a comfortable, if perhaps undeserved, two-goal cushion.

The early goal was just what the home support needed as an already excited Kop were sent into raptures, with County moving out of the bottom four in the process.

But Colchester immediately snapped into life and, despite the bright start from the hosts, they were soon on the back foot as United increased the pressure.

Sears looked keen to find an equaliser and assaulted Bartosz Bialkowski’s right post in an attempt to do so, lashing a volley against the woodwork after 18 minutes following Domonic Vose’s pass.

Thankfully for County, the rebound fell to a black-and-white shirt who swiftly put the ball out of harm’s reach.

This followed an earlier Sears effort, where appeals for handball after Hayden Mullins’ block were waved away by referee Lee Collins.

United almost levelled seven minutes before the interval following good work down the left by Alex Gilbey.

The midfielder stormed into the area and tried to curl a shot into the bottom right-hand corner but Bialkowski was on hand to scoop it away, as Jabo Ibehre narrowly missed the opportunity to follow up the loose ball.

County’s ‘keeper was called into action once more just 60 seconds later as he tipped Ryan Dickson’s cross over the bar before punching clear Wilson’s subsequent corner kick.

At the other end of the pitch, a 16th-minute Murray effort was caught by Sam Walker, while Hollis headed his cross over the bar, before putting things right with his second headed effort 10 minutes later.

A lacklustre Bean attempt and a soft Ibehre header summed up Colchester’s frustrations as the first half fizzled out.

And whatever Shaun Derry said at the interval certainly inspired his County side as they pinned United back for the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Murray was on the attack instantly, bending a left-sided shot just beyond the corner of the crossbar, while the hard-working Jimmy Spencer came agonisingly close three minutes later when he turned an optimistic half-volley just wide.

Tom Eastman was then on hand to stop the Magpies claiming a third, deflecting a determined Murray shot behind after the striker snuck into the box on the right.

Dunne introduced Massey and Clinton Morrison in place of Bean and Vose before the hour mark as Colchester looked for inspiration of their own.

But their first clear-cut chance of the second half fell to Sears on the 69th minute, who scooped a shot over the bar after pressure from Sheehan, who limped away from his last-ditch tackle.

With half an hour to go, the game began to peter out as Notts County held onto their lead, although the home faithful voiced their displeasure at a couple of offside decisions.

Colchester made their final substitution, replacing Gilbey for Eastmond, before County made their first, as Grealish left the field to strong applause to make way for Nathan Tyson after 78 minutes.

Four minutes previously , Bialkowski was almost caught out by a tricky Dickson free-kick, having to back-peddle to push it over the bar, while he thwarted Massey’s attempt to make an impact with 10 minutes left, easily stopping a low 25-yard shot from the substitute.

A punched-clear Eastmond strike and a deflected Morrision shot were Colchester’s final offerings, while Liddle’s double effort was blocked then saved at the other end as Notts County fought to finalise a vitally important three points, with ‘The Great Escape’ greeting the sound of the final whistle.