Colchester United secured an impressive 3-0 win over struggling Crewe Alexandra to claim their first league victory at Gresty Road for the first time since 1986.

Second-half goals from Freddie Sears, Rhys Healey and Sanchez Watt gave the U’s their second win under manager Tony Humes and helped pile the pressure on their opponents.

The first half was a cagey affair with Colchester dealing comfortably with much of what Crewe threw at them and looked dangerous on the break.

The U’s went close to scoring in the sixth minute when midfielder George Moncur’s free-kick from the edge of the area was pushed over the bar by the Alex keeper Ben Garratt.

George Ray almost turned Sean Clohessy’s cross into his own net and Freddie Sears saw a deflected effort sail over for a corner.

But the U’s almost went in at half-time behind after Billy Waters had gone past keeper Sam Walker in the area and fired towards goal, only for left-back Ben Gordon to clear his effort off the line.

Crewe started the second half well, with Greg Leigh blasting over from close range in the minutes that followed after half-time.

Leigh’s header came back off the post from Waters’ cross seconds later before U’s boss Tony Humes made an attacking substitution that changed the game, bringing on Healey for Craig Eastmond.

Colchester took the lead just before the hour mark.

After Watt’s low cross had sailed across the face of the box, Sears blasted home unchallenged at the far post.

And the U’s scored again six minutes later through Healey, who confidently fired past Garratt after racing onto Gavin Massey’s accurate through pass.

Things got even better for Colchester, five minutes later.

After Sears’ attempted cross had been diverted towards his own goal by Crewe defender Alan Tate, Watt forced the ball home near the goal-line under pressure from Matt Tootle to put the U’s further ahead and seal a fantastic win.

For five pages of coverage of the U’s game with Crewe Alexandra, see Monday’s Daily Gazette.