Colchester saw off Southampton to seal their fourth successive win and move up to joint-third in League One.
The U's took the lead when Kevin Lisbie picked out the on-rushing Anthony Wordsworth, who coolly slotted home.
Substitute Papa Waigo N'Diaye had an effort chalked off for offside before Southampton went further behind when Steven Gillespie struck from 12 yards.
Lambert pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Dean Hammond had been fouled.
Colchester United manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Essex:
"I'm thrilled as it has been a difficult few days.
"We had Southend away and there was plenty of emotion in that one and we knew this match would be our biggest game.
"But that is a mark of how far we have come, as all our games are big now."
Southampton manager Alan Pardew told BBC Radio Solent:
"We bossed large periods of this game and were the better the side but (conceded) two poor goals on our part... and unfortunately that's been costly for us this season.
"We put a gallant effort in, got a goal right at the death but we deserved more than one.
"We've still got a lot of work to do, we're not a playoff side yet. We've got to make up this difference against teams that are going to win, but we're going to give it a good go."
Live text and stats
Monday, 28 December 2009
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Colchester
2-1
Southampton
FT
(HT 1-0)
Wordsworth 23
Gillespie 75
Lambert (pen) 90+1
Colchester
01 Williams
04 Okuonghae
06 Reid
23 Tierney
25 White
31 Ifil
08 O'Toole yellow card
10 Izzet (Fox 78)
22 Wordsworth
18 Gillespie (Thomas 80)
20 Lisbie (Heath 90+3)
Substitutes
12 Cousins,
21 Batth,
28 Heath,
11 Hackney,
14 Fox,
09 Platt,
19 Thomas
Southampton
28 Bialkowski
02 Harding
03 Thomas yellow card
06 Jaidi
12 Trotman yellow card (Gobern 78)
23 James
14 Hammond
19 Schneiderlin (Connolly 46)
37 Antonio yellow card (Papa Waigo 62)
07 Lambert
20 Lallana
Substitutes
01 Davis,
05 Perry,
10 Wotton,
11 Holmes,
29 Gobern,
09 Papa Waigo,
38 Connolly
Ref: DeadmanAtt: 8,514
COLCHESTER
SOUTHAMPTON
Possession
Colchester43%
Southampton57%
Attempts on target
Colchester5
Southampton8
Attempts off target
Colchester6
Southampton4
Corners
Colchester3
Southampton5
Fouls
Colchester13
Southampton10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:57 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+5:31 The offside flag is raised against Ndiaye Papa Waigo. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.
90:00+5:12 Richard Lambert has an effort at goal. Paul Reid gets a block in.
90:00+2:14 Substitution Kevin Lisbie goes off and Matt Heath comes on.
90:00+1:36 Lloyd James delivers the ball, David Fox manages to make a clearance.
90:00+0:19 GOAL - Richard Lambert:Colchester 2 - 1 Southampton Richard Lambert scores a placed penalty. Colchester 2-1 Southampton.
Correction - 89:21 Ben Williams gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Dean Hammond.
89:21 Ben Williams gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Oscar Gobern.
89:12 A cross is delivered by Dan Harding.
88:36 Foul by Philip Ifil on Oscar Gobern, free kick awarded. Bartosz Bialkowski restarts play with the free kick.
87:56 Philip Ifil decides to take the corner short.
87:48 A cross is delivered by Philip Ifil, clearance by Radhi Jaidi.
86:53 Kevin Lisbie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the free kick.
85:34 Short corner taken by Philip Ifil from the left by-line.
83:08 Oscar Gobern takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Ben Williams.
82:57 The ball is sent over by David Connolly, Marc Tierney makes a clearance.
82:08 Centre by Dan Harding, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Lloyd James goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
81:56 A cross is delivered by Dan Harding, Marc Tierney makes a clearance.
80:09 Shot by Joel Thomas from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
79:25 Substitution Steven Gillespie goes off and Joel Thomas comes on.
78:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Gillespie by Radhi Jaidi. David Fox takes the free kick.
77:44 Substitution Oscar Gobern replaces Neal Trotman.
77:03 Substitution David Fox joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kemal Izzet.
76:34 The ball is sent over by Wayne Thomas, save made by Ben Williams.
76:16 David Connolly crosses the ball, Richard Lambert takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
74:07 Philip Ifil provided the assist for the goal.
74:07 GOAL - Steven Gillespie:Colchester 2 - 0 Southampton Steven Gillespie scores a goal from just inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Colchester 2-0 Southampton.
73:27 David Connolly takes a shot. Blocked by Magnus Okuonghae.
72:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Lallana by Anthony Wordsworth. Richard Lambert has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, save by Ben Williams.
71:12 The offside flag is raised against Adam Lallana. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.
70:04 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lloyd James, Wayne Thomas has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
68:35 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Hammond on Marc Tierney. Anthony Wordsworth delivers the ball, Header by Steven Gillespie from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
67:58 Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Save by Bartosz Bialkowski.
65:38 Foul by Lloyd James on Kevin Lisbie, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Anthony Wordsworth, save by Bartosz Bialkowski.
65:08 David Connolly takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
64:35 The ball is crossed by Richard Lambert, Magnus Okuonghae manages to make a clearance.
63:23 A cross is delivered by Wayne Thomas.
62:57 The referee blows for offside against Kevin Lisbie. Indirect free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
62:39 A cross is delivered by John White, Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Save by Bartosz Bialkowski.
61:20 Philip Ifil takes the free kick.
61:20 Substitution Ndiaye Papa Waigo replaces Michail Antonio.
61:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kemal Izzet by Lloyd James.
59:45 Corner from the right by-line taken by Lloyd James, Radhi Jaidi takes a shot. Save by Ben Williams.
58:32 Steven Gillespie produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
57:22 Foul by Kevin Lisbie on Dan Harding, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
56:07 Wayne Thomas sends in a cross, Magnus Okuonghae makes a clearance. The assistant referee flags for offside against Radhi Jaidi. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.
55:42 Michail Antonio fouled by Marc Tierney, the ref awards a free kick. Lloyd James restarts play with the free kick.
54:29 The referee blows for offside against David Connolly. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.
53:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kevin Lisbie. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the free kick.
52:51 The ball is swung over by David Connolly, Marc Tierney makes a clearance.
51:52 The ball is delivered by Philip Ifil, clearance made by Dan Harding.
50:05 Free kick taken by Lloyd James.
50:05 Booking Wayne Thomas booked.
49:56 Booking Booking for John-Joe O'Toole for unsporting behaviour.
49:06 John-Joe O'Toole gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wayne Thomas.
48:31 Michail Antonio takes a shot. Blocked by Anthony Wordsworth.
47:56 Corner taken by Lloyd James from the right by-line, Marc Tierney makes a clearance.
46:36 Foul by Kevin Lisbie on Wayne Thomas, free kick awarded. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
45:01 Substitution (Southampton) makes a substitution, with David Connolly coming on for Morgan Schneiderlin.
Half Time
45:00+2:06 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+1:05 The ball is delivered by Philip Ifil.
44:20 Booking Neal Trotman receives a yellow card.
42:13 Free kick taken by Paul Reid.
42:13 Booking Michail Antonio is shown a yellow card.
42:05 Michail Antonio challenges John-Joe O'Toole unfairly and gives away a free kick.
38:10 The ball is sent over by Michail Antonio, save by Ben Williams.
34:55 Unfair challenge on Paul Reid by Dean Hammond results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.
34:42 The ball is crossed by Richard Lambert.
33:17 Lloyd James takes a corner.
33:04 The ball is delivered by Lloyd James, save by Ben Williams.
32:57 Adam Lallana crosses the ball, clearance by Marc Tierney.
32:32 The offside flag is raised against Kevin Lisbie. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the free kick.
29:57 Centre by Michail Antonio, clearance made by John-Joe O'Toole.
29:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dean Hammond by Kemal Izzet. Lloyd James takes the direct free kick.
28:19 Corner taken by Lloyd James, Anthony Wordsworth makes a clearance.
26:39 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Anthony Wordsworth, Steven Gillespie has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
25:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Lisbie on Michail Antonio. Lloyd James crosses the ball in from the free kick, save made by Ben Williams.
24:52 The ball is sent over by Wayne Thomas, Anthony Wordsworth manages to make a clearance.
22:45 Assist on the goal came from Kevin Lisbie.
22:45 GOAL - Anthony Wordsworth:Colchester 1 - 0 Southampton A goal is scored by Anthony Wordsworth from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 1-0 Southampton.
21:54 Neal Trotman challenges Kevin Lisbie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Magnus Okuonghae takes the free kick.
20:34 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Gillespie by Neal Trotman. Magnus Okuonghae takes the direct free kick.
16:43 The offside flag is raised against Kevin Lisbie. Free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
15:48 John-Joe O'Toole concedes a free kick for a foul on Dan Harding. Bartosz Bialkowski restarts play with the free kick.
14:03 Michail Antonio takes a shot.
13:07 Kevin Lisbie challenges Wayne Thomas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lloyd James.
12:25 The ball is swung over by John White, Unfair challenge on Neal Trotman by Steven Gillespie results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
11:58 Foul by Neal Trotman on Steven Gillespie, free kick awarded. Philip Ifil takes the direct free kick.
11:22 Philip Ifil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Lallana. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the free kick.
11:14 Philip Ifil delivers the ball, clearance made by Radhi Jaidi.
9:55 John White sends in a cross, save made by Bartosz Bialkowski.
8:34 Effort from the edge of the area by Philip Ifil goes wide of the right-hand post.
6:08 Effort from outside the penalty box by Lloyd James goes wide right of the target.
5:58 Wayne Thomas delivers the ball, save made by Ben Williams.
5:28 The assistant referee signals for offside against Richard Lambert. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.
1:28 Effort from outside the penalty area by Marc Tierney goes wide left of the goal.
1:23 The ball is swung over by John White, Neal Trotman makes a clearance.
0:46 Neal Trotman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Lisbie. Direct free kick taken by Ben Williams.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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