Bramall’s free-kick gives Colchester first leg advantage

Cohen Bramall’s great free-kick made the difference as Colchester beat Exeter 1-0.

Exeter had the first corner of the game. Randall Williams’ delivery to the middle was good, but Ryan Bowman got too much underneath the ball and headed it over.

Lewis Ward was forced into the first save of the game as he tipped Cohen Bramall’s 25 yard effort over the bar.

Matt Jay’s then had a chance he got inside the box and went for goal, but with two Colchester defenders around him the hosts were able to clear the ball away.

Ward was called into action for in the second half as he claimed a poor cross from Jackson.

Kwame Poku laid the ball off to Courtney Senior, but he shot just went over.

Jay fired a wicked free-kick that whipped into the side netting of the Colchester goal on the hour mark.

Law then snuck a pass through to Jay, but Tom Eastman was able to tackle the Exeter man.

Frank Nouble then fired a shot goalwards, however it was parried away by Ward.

Moments later Nouble turned into the provider when his ball found Poku. Aaron Martin blocked his effort and before Harry Pell could get to the loose ball, it went behind for a corner.

Colchester found a way through with ten minutes to spare, when Cohen Bramall’s exquisite free-kick found the net.

Exeter mounted the pressure on in the final minutes of the game but did not create a big enough chance to threaten the goal of Dean Gerken. It means Colchester will go into Monday’s second leg at St. James’ Park, with a 1-0 lead

Team Lineups

Colchester United XI- Gerken, Jackson, Eastman, Prosser, Bramall, Poku (Cowan-Hall 88′), Pell, Stevenson (Lapsie 77′), Senior (Gambin 67′), Nouble, Norris (Robinson 76′).

Exeter City XI- Ward, Sweeney, Martin, Moxey (Parkes 77′), Williams, Taylor, Atangana, Law (Collins 67′), Sparkes (Dickenson 77′), Bowman, Martin (Jay 38′)