Steven Gillespie scored twice as Colchester routed nine-man Exeter City.
Daniel Nardiello's far-post finish gave the Grecians the lead, but Gillespie made it 1-1 when he flicked in Matt Heath's header from a corner.
Steve Tully and Scott Golbourne were sent off for fouls on Ashley Vincent. Golbourne's resulted in a penalty scored by David Mooney.
Vincent finished from Lloyd James' pass, Gillespie slotted in and Andy Bond made it five from close range.
Colchester United manager John Ward told BBC Essex: "Absolutely enjoyed it as did the supporters, I think it is a reward for everybody's patience, particularly the team and the supporters.
"Even at 1-0 down it was a test for the team, how were we going to deal with this situation.
"We lifted our game and at halftime we talked about keeping the pace of the game going."
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon: "The second red card was the decisive moment, if it wasn't hard enough going 3-1 down and having a man sent off is curtains really.
"It was a bad day although I have very little to complain about with the players - they did a fairly decent job.
"The circumstances left us with nine men for the last 20 minutes and it was very hard for the players."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Colchester
5-1
Exeter
FT
(HT 1-1)
Gillespie 31
Mooney (pen) 73
Vincent 76
Gillespie 77
Bond 86
Nardiello 21
Colchester
01 Williams
06 N Clarke
20 Wilson
28 Heath
10 Izzet (James 75 yellow card)
14 Bond
17 Perkins
24 Coker
07 Vincent (Henderson 87)
18 Gillespie
19 Mooney
Substitutes
12 Cousins,
25 White,
08 O'Toole,
22 Wordsworth,
26 James,
15 Odejayi,
16 Henderson
Exeter
01 Hamer
02 Tully red card
03 Duffy
05 Archibald-Henville
11 Golbourne red card
04 Dunne yellow card
07 Harley
22 Sercombe yellow card
10 Nardiello (Jones 46)
12 Cureton (Cozic 66)
29 O'Flynn (Logan 90+2)
Substitutes
30 Krysiak,
15 Edwards,
18 Jones,
26 Bennett,
14 Cozic,
16 Stewart,
20 Logan
Ref: EvansAtt: 3,629
COLCHESTER
EXETER
Possession
Colchester61%
Exeter39%
Attempts on target
Colchester8
Exeter2
Attempts off target
Colchester9
Exeter3
Corners
Colchester8
Exeter5
Fouls
Colchester3
Exeter10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:55 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+1:25 Substitution John O'Flynn leaves the field to be replaced by Richard Logan.
90:00+0:35 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lloyd James on James Dunne. James Dunne takes the free kick.
90:00+0:35 Booking Lloyd James goes into the book.
89:00 Steven Gillespie has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.
88:04 Steven Gillespie produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
86:56 Corner taken by Brian Wilson, Liam Sercombe makes a clearance.
86:56 Substitution Ian Henderson on for Ashley Vincent.
85:32 The assist for the goal came from David Mooney.
85:32 GOAL - Andy Bond:Colchester 5 - 1 Exeter Andy Bond fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Colchester 5-1 Exeter.
83:16 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by David Perkins, clearance made by James Dunne.
Correction - 81:41 The assistant referee signals for offside against Troy Archibald-Henville. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.
81:41 The assistant referee flags for offside against Troy Archibald-Henville. Ben Williams takes the free kick,
79:51 Brian Wilson decides to take the corner short.
79:27 Corner taken short by Brian Wilson.
76:23 Assist on the goal came from Ashley Vincent.
76:23 GOAL - Steven Gillespie:Colchester 4 - 1 Exeter Steven Gillespie gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 4-1 Exeter.
75:11 Assist by Ben Williams.
75:11 GOAL - Ashley Vincent:Colchester 3 - 1 Exeter Goal scored by Ashley Vincent from the edge of the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Colchester 3-1 Exeter.
74:20 David Mooney is caught offside. Ben Hamer takes the free kick.
74:20 Substitution (Colchester) makes a substitution, with Lloyd James coming on for Kemal Izzet.
73:13 Booking Liam Sercombe shown a yellow card.
72:41 Scott Golbourne gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Ashley Vincent.
72:41 GOAL - David Mooney:Colchester 2 - 1 Exeter Penalty scored by David Mooney. Colchester 2-1 Exeter.
71:50 Sent off Red card for Scott Golbourne.
68:30 Foul by Troy Archibald-Henville on Andy Bond, free kick awarded. Ben Coker takes the direct free kick.
65:26 Andy Bond has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
62:21 Effort from inside the six-yard box by Jamie Cureton goes wide left of the target.
60:50 Steven Gillespie produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.
57:55 Andy Bond takes a shot. Save made by Ben Hamer.
56:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John O'Flynn by Steven Gillespie. Ben Hamer restarts play with the free kick.
56:01 Shot by Steven Gillespie. Save by Ben Hamer.
55:22 James Dunne challenges Ashley Vincent unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Brian Wilson.
55:22 Booking The referee cautions James Dunne for unsporting behaviour.
50:58 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Brian Wilson from the right by-line, clearance by Troy Archibald-Henville.
49:17 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Harley.
47:24 James Dunne concedes a free kick for a foul on David Perkins. Brian Wilson takes the free kick.
46:26 Shot by Jamie Cureton from deep inside the six-yard box clear the bar.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution Billy Jones replaces Daniel Nardiello.
Half Time
45:00+3:13 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+2:35 Effort on goal by Ashley Vincent from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
45:00+0:57 David Mooney has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
44:22 Andy Bond has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.
43:23 The offside flag is raised against Daniel Nardiello. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.
41:37 Jamie Cureton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Ben Williams restarts play with the free kick.
41:08 Unfair challenge on Liam Sercombe by Ashley Vincent results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Richard Duffy.
39:48 John O'Flynn takes a shot. Clearance made by Nathan Clarke.
35:23 Ashley Vincent fouled by Steve Tully, the ref awards a free kick. Brian Wilson has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
35:23 Sent off The referee shows Steve Tully a red card.
34:10 Effort from outside the penalty box by Ben Coker goes wide right of the goal.
33:43 David Mooney is caught offside. Ben Hamer takes the free kick.
32:37 Andy Bond takes a shot. Save made by Ben Hamer. Inswinging corner taken by Ben Coker, clearance made by Troy Archibald-Henville.
30:57 Corner taken left-footed by Ben Coker, the assist for the goal came from Matt Heath.
30:57 GOAL - Steven Gillespie:Colchester 1 - 1 Exeter Steven Gillespie finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 1-1 Exeter.
28:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Coker by John O'Flynn. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Coker.
25:35 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Brian Wilson, Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Clearance made by John O'Flynn.
24:26 Corner taken by Ryan Harley from the left by-line, Brian Wilson manages to make a clearance.
23:46 Corner taken by Ryan Harley, clearance made by Matt Heath.
22:48 Foul by Steve Tully on Ben Coker, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Brian Wilson.
21:47 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Ben Hamer.
20:32 Assist by Steve Tully.
20:32 GOAL - Daniel Nardiello:Colchester 0 - 1 Exeter Daniel Nardiello finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Colchester 0-1 Exeter.
18:44 Corner from the right by-line taken by Ryan Harley, free kick awarded for a foul by Troy Archibald-Henville on Matt Heath. Ben Williams takes the indirect free kick.
17:49 The official flags Andy Bond offside. Ben Hamer restarts play with the free kick.
16:28 Steve Tully produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.
14:07 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Mooney by Troy Archibald-Henville. Free kick taken by David Mooney.
10:56 Ryan Harley takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Brian Wilson.
5:18 The assistant referee signals for offside against David Mooney. Free kick taken by Ben Hamer.
1:56 Unfair challenge on David Perkins by James Dunne results in a free kick. Brian Wilson takes the free kick.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
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