Colchester United season-ticket holder Si Collinson's views on the U's

OUR play-off and promotion ambitions are in our own hands.

We just have to keep playing well, get the wins and then no matter what happens around us Colchester United will be in the top seven come the end of the League Two season.

This weekend, we're back at home against Cheltenham, a team currently sitting one place higher than us, so another three points will throw the marker down and build on the Salford City result.

As alluded to last week, seven days is a long time in football but not when it comes to the weather, it seems.

We had the long-awaited away day at Salford, a chance to get a new ground under our belts and see what all the hype about the club the class of '92 built was all about.

But before the game could even get underway, the weather made an appearance and two pitch inspections were required to get the game on.

From what I heard, Salford were very keen to get the game played and were getting it on at all costs. But when we arrived, the pitch looked very waterlogged and broken up in places.

Nevertheless, the officials said play and Colchester United sure did.

We came out of the blocks with a point to prove and really took the game to a team which boasted a decent home record.

The change in formation proved its worth and at times, we looked like we had an extra gear.

A 2-1 lead at the break, with two very well-taken goals, put us in pole position.

The second half took the form of a mud bath, with the pitch having seen better days.

The ball was sticking while the players' footing was not.

The referee must have been enjoying the spectacle, as he managed to play ten additional minutes.

Nonetheless, the U’s came away with three points and the mood among supporters was vastly changed from that of last weekend's washout up at Vale.

John McGreal and Steve Ball changed the formation and started with two forward players and it really clicked.

The U’s really controlled the ball, while switching and holding the ball up with ease.

The first goal was a fine effort by Poku, who on another day with a little more luck could have had at least two or three more.

But what was the cost? A number of players were on the receiving end of late tackles and both Harriott and Norris were limping heavily at full-time.

Fingers crossed, this isn’t anything too serious or that there are any long-term impact injuries.

A surprise change was Tom Eastman being dropped to the bench and replaced by Omar Sowunmi.

Tom has been one of our standout players in recent months and rightfully could feel hard done by with the decision.

But full credit to Sowunmi; he played a blinder, had no rust from the months without first-team action and in fairness to him, put in a blinding display that could have been worthy of man of the match with his blocks and recovery tackles.

Now the challenge will be, if all centre-backs are fit, who to leave out.

But it could be a blessing and give another angle to the formation with possibly playing three at the back, with Bramall and Harriott in the wing-back positions.

It is all ifs, buts and maybes but another idea to keep opponents guessing over the remaining games.