Colchester Utd 1 West Ham Utd 2

Goals from Nicky Maynard and Mark Noble helped the Hammers to a narrow victory over League One side Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this afternoon.

However Sam Allardyce's side were left clinging on at the end as the home side were the width of a post away from snatching a dramatic equaliser.

Having taken the lead after 16 minutes when Nicky Maynard fired home from close range following good work from Gary O'Neil and Carlton Cole, the Hammers looked a good bet for a second win in eight days following the 3-0 victory at Southend last weekend.

And when Mark Noble doubled their lead from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark after goalscorer Maynard was felled by a clumsy challenge from the U's O'Toole it looked as if a repeat of that emphatic win at Roots Hall could be on the cards.

But having pulled a goal back before the break through Wordsworth the home side, playing in front of a healthy crowd of just under 8,000, came close on several occasions to equalising in the second half - and none more so than when Wright's effort rebounded off the woodwork with just 90 seconds of normal time remaining.

Colchester, featuring former Hammer Freddie Sears who recently signed a three-year deal with the Essex club were up against several new faces in claret and blue.

Bilal Mohsni, who played a full 90 minutes at Grays Athletic last night came on as a second half substitute whilst Colin Kazim-Richards, who has been on trial at Chadwell Heath recently also featured.

There was also some worrying news for manager Allardyce when club captain Kevin Nolan limped off after just four minutes having taken a knock inside the opening minute of the game.

Today's Results

Colchester Utd 1-2 West Ham Utd

West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, McCartney, Taylor, Noble, O'Neil, Nolan, Kazim Richards, Maynard, Cole.

Subs: Larkins, Driver, Mohsni, Hall, Vaz Te, Moncur, Nasha, Morrison, Spence, Potts.

Colchester Utd: Cousins, Okounghae, Bean, Eastman, Coker, Wilson, Wordsworth, Duguid, O'Toole, Morrison, Sears.

Subs: Pentney, Aldred, Rose, Heath, Izzet, Bond, Henderson, White, Gilbey, Wright.