The U's eased their worries at the foot of the table with a crucial 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday.

Goals from Teddy Sheringham and George Elokobi saw the visitors roar into a surprise lead, but they showed real battling spirit to preserve their lead throughout the second half after the Owls had given themselves hope just before the break.

It was the U's first win in eight and Wednesday's first defeat in seven as Geraint Williams' men stuck to their tactical guns of recent weeks and got the three points that previous performances had deserved but not received.

A first win away from home since August sees the U's continue to be the Owls bogey team and it makes for a much happier weekend for the U's and the hardy fans that made the journey to Yorkshire.

The U's made four changes from the side that lost narrowly against Wolves, although three of those switches were enforced on boss Geraint Williams.

Bela Balogh (ankle), Danny Granville (hamstring) and Kevin Watson (calf) all missed out, with George Elokobi, Matt Connolly and Kevin McLeod came into the starting eleven.

The other switch was Teddy Sheringham coming in for Clive Platt as the U's looked for their first win in eight games.

And Sheringham was on target within 52 seconds of the kick off as Colchester went in front in dramatic fashion.

The ball forward was deflected up in the air off a Wednesday defender and the veteran striker wasted no time in moving in on the loose ball to drill his shot left footed past Lee Grant.

If ever there was a way in which to quieten the home fans, that was it but the Owls supporters saw their side go close twice in quick succession after the U's went in front, with Tudgay's header dropping just over the bar after a cross from the left.

But the U's were playing some good stuff of their own and a clever combination between Sheringham and Izzet almost got McLeod in at the back post, but he was denied at the last moment as the ball was cleared for a corner.

The home team, in fairness, were trying to find a path back into the match but were somewhat tentative having been knocked out of their stride by the early goal.

Simek got down the right hand side on seventeen minutes to win the battle with Izzet in the corner, and his cross into the box found Sodje in the box, but he was always leaning backwards as his header went over the bar.

In the main, though, the U's were well organised at the back and were content to hit their opponents on the break with some swift counter attacking football - one sweet cross from Duguid on twenty minutes nearly found the onrushing Sheringham but was just shy of finding the earlier goalscorer.

And with the midway point of the half approaching, the home fans were starting to show the first signs of impatience with their side as they struggled to break the Colchester door down.

The U's nearly doubled their advantage when a swift move down the left had Lisbie sneaking in at the far post and it took two Wednesday men to deny him tucking home.

The home team failed to clear the first corner and from the second set piece, the ball beat everyone but found Elokobi on the far post. He miscued his header from less than six yards out but moved his feet quickly enough to poke home with his left foot.

Wednesday had appeals for a penalty on 28 minutes as Sodje appeared to be hauled to the ground, but the ref played on and Whelan was denied when his driven shot from just inside the box was deflected wide for a corner.

But Colchester were a potent threat every time they went forwards and when McLeod had a little good fortune with the run of the ball down the left, his low cross was agonisingly close to finding the outstretched boot of Sheringham as he roared in on goal.

The home team thought they had found a path back into the game when Tudgay headed home from a quick free kick with 33 minutes on the clock. However, the linesman's flag had gone up as soon as he moved and the goal was disallowed.

However, they did manage to pull themselves into the match when a fine low cross from the left side was met by both Gerken and Sodje at the near post and it rebounded off the Wednesday man and rolled into the net.

It was almost 2-2 within seconds as Johnson burst past his man and laid it into the path of Simek. His low driven shot was well saved by Gerken but, more importantly, held by the U's keeper with Wednesday men bearing in on goal.

The home team were back and alive and their fans responded in kind, but the U's kept probing for the crucial next goal before the break with one dangerous Elokobi cross cleared by Hinds with Sheringham lingering.

From the resultant set piece, Jackson swung one in and Lisbie back flicked the ball with his head and watched it drop agonisingly past the far post with the keeper flatfooted.

Grant was more comfortable in additional time at the end of the first half, though, as he watched Yeates twist and turn before eventually firing well over the bar.

The U's got to half time a goal ahead, but they had to make a change at the break as Pat Baldwin was introduced for the second forty-five for Connolly.

The substitute would be given a busy time no doubt in the second half, with Sodje a player whose recent goalscoring run had left him brimming with confidence to compliment his pace and power.

Having had their lead cut in half just before half time, the U's would have been eager to see out the early part of the second period and take the sting out of Wednesday's play.

They were counterattacking well, though, with the pace of McLeod, Lisbie and Yeates giving the U's an out ball to break forward, if not always with a quality end product.

Sodje looked to have escaped the attentions of the U's back line on 56 minutes, but got his feet tangled up when he went to shoot, the opportunity becoming a whole lot harder by the time he regained his balance and shot wildly over.

He got in again sixty seconds later, but Gerken was bravely off his line to collect the ball and did not shirk the collect even with Sodje's sizeable frame bearing down on him.

The U's nearly grabbed the crucial third on 58, though, as Lisbie was sent clear in the corner by Sheringham and he bore down on goal to lay the ball back to Yeates. His shot was blocked but looped up over Grant and - thankfully from an Owls perspective at least - over the bar.

The home team made their first change of the game with eighteen minutes of the half gone as Tudgay, who had quietened after his early involvement, was replaced by Wade Small for the final quarter of the match.

A minute after the change, some clever interchange between McLeod and Sheringham set up Izzet on the edge of the box, but he opted to try and put in Lisbie when perhaps well placed to drill in a shot from distance.

The U's were having a little spell of pressure of their own and, with 66 minutes on the clock, Sheringham flicked on a low corner. Elokobi couldn't move his feet quickly enough this time as the ball dropped to him three yards out and Grant snaffled up the rebound before the defender could repeat his first half feat.

The second change came for the home team with twenty left on the (slow moving, unfortunately!) clock, as Etienne Esajas came on for Burton O'Brien.

The U's then came close to adding a third as Lisbie was put in on goal. He lifted the ball around the defender, but couldn't put the finishing touch past Grant and from the rebound, McLeod's fierce follow-up was deflected wide for a corner.

Colchester made their first change as the fans were still reflecting on that chance. Teddy Sheringham's hard work saw him replaced to a warm reception from all supporters, as Clive Platt came on in his place.

Play had not restarted when Izzet appeared to be felled on the edge of the U's box. It was not clear how he had been taken to the ground, but he was remonstrating angrily with Johnson and had to be held back by Tony Flynn when he did find his feet.

Chances were proving to be at a premium in the second half for the home team and that only served to raise frustrations for the fans when Johnson screwed his shot from the edge of the box horribly wide when well placed.

The final ten minutes arrived though and it was to be a nervy spell for the U's as they sought that massive three points. The home fans were beginning to have enough though, as their side struggled to find the magic formula.

The visiting defence were holding firm though, although there was a nervous moment on 85 minutes when Virgo let the ball bounce and a dangerous cross to the near post needed Gerken to intercept.

And the goalie made a crucial save a minute later, his first real stop of the second half, as he flung himself to his right to deny Burton. Sodje moved for the loose ball and Esajas tucked home, but the flag had gone up for offside as soon as the two forwards moved for the rebound.

That was the last chance for the home team as the U's battled their way to the final whistle and to a huge three points in the context of their recent run of form.

Att: 22,331