COLCHESTER United interim first-team coach Wayne Brown has praised his side's character after they fought back to beat Carlisle United 2-1.

The U's ended their 14-match wait for a win after a Callum Harriott second-half brace saw them claim a much-needed victory, at a foggy JobServe Community Stadium.

Colchester had fallen behind to Jon Mellish's first-half strike but battled back to win and are now ten points above the League Two relegation zone.

Brown said: “The lads were great.

“We had to weather the storm as such and we knew that they were going to come out of the blocks and they’ve blown teams away this season in the first 20 to 25 minutes of games and found themselves a couple of goals up.

“We knew that it was going to be a tough shift in the first half but I thought the lads showed a lot of character being 1-0 down and it’s the first time this season I think that they’ve been behind and managed to win the game of football.

“It’s really pleasing but what pleased me more was the second half performance when the game opened up.

“We then had a little bit of character and confidence to pass the ball and we used the width really well and had runners without the ball, which is massive.

“We had a couple of good opportunities and a couple of one of ones which we should have put away but just before we scored the second goal, Sham (George) makes a fantastic save and that’s as good as a goal, a save like that.

“We then managed to go on and get the three points so the lads were great.

"The game did open up and get stretched, as inevitably it would.

"They couldn't keep the tempo up that they showed in the first half, that was always going to fade.

"We're here to win football matches and if you find yourself 1-0 down, you've got to do everything you can to win the game of football.

"We made a couple of changes which helped to generate those chances that they came along in the second half.

"I'm just pleased for the lads, because it's a horrible game when you're on that run of 13 or 14 games without a win.

"You're wondering where it's going to come from and I'm just pleased for them.

"It's important that they enjoy it but now we build on this with another home game on Saturday (against Newport County)."

Harriott played a big role in Colchester's second-half recovery, after he followed up an equaliser from the spot with a fine long-range strike.

"It was a fantastic strike and we know that Cal can produce that," said Brown, who managed Harriott during his first spell in caretaker charge of the U's.

"He's got that in the locker and we've seen it many times this season and many times when he was here before, a few years ago.

"That will do his confidence the world of good and hopefully he takes that on, for the remaining part of the season.

"With the penalty, it doesn't matter how it goes in that net - as long as it goes in.

"It's frustrating to concede from another set play but you've also got to give them credit in the fact that that's what they play for - that's their game.

"They play for corners, free-kicks, long throws and you're getting bombarded in the box - we always knew that was going to happen.

"Yes it was disappointing to concede like that but the way we brushed ourselves down and went again in the second half was pleasing."

It proved to be an eventful evening, with referee Trevor Kettle overturning two penalty decisions - one for each side - following consultation with his assistants.

Kettle had awarded Carlisle a penalty following Omar Sowunmi's challenge on Josh Kayode in the area, only to perform a U-turn on his decision.

And later in the half, he reversed a decision to award Colchester a penalty after Jevani Brown had gone down under keeper Paul Farman's challenge in the box.

Brown said: "I don't think I've ever been involved in a game where the ref has actually overturned two penalties.

"But what I would say - and it's easy for me to say standing here after we've just won a game of football 2-1 - is that I think he got them spot on.

"I think their penalty albeit in the fog looked we got the ball and with the other one, I think their keeper made a great save off JB who probably should have scored.

"As long as they get them right, it's one of those things."