COLCHESTER United gave their supporters the perfect Christmas present this afternoon after claiming a well-deserved Boxing Day win over Gillingham.

Goals from Lyle Taylor and John Kymani-Gordon secured Danny Cowley's side victory at the JobServe Community Stadium, extending their unbeaten run to ten matches and their sequence of successive clean sheets to seven.

It was a well deserved win for the U's, in front of a jubilant holiday crowd of nearly 6,000.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made four changes to his starting line-up.

Skipper Tom Flanagan, Mandela Egbo, Oscar Thorn and Jack Payne came in for Fiacre Kelleher, Harry Anderson and Teddy Bishop who dropped to the bench and Samson Tovide, who missed out due to a hamstring injury.

Colchester were looking to make a strong start in front of a bumper Boxing Day crowd and they did just that.

After Payne’s fierce shot from Owura Edwards’ was saved by Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris, the ball ran into the path of Lyle Taylor who gleefully converted a first-time shot into the net for his eighth goal of the season.

Colchester thought they had doubled their lead, a minute later.

They had the ball in the net again when Thorn converted Edwards’ low cross at the far post but the goal was disallowed for offside, much to Danny Cowley’s disgust.

The U’s enjoyed a bright start and Edwards was particularly lively, almost scoring when he picked up possession 25 yards from goal before firing in a low shot which Morris saved down to his right.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

The Gills took time to get into the contest and Jack Nolan's 25-yard effort flew over but Colchester looked the more dangerous of the two sides and had a penalty appeal rejected when Payne tumbled under Ethan Coleman's challenge in the area.

U’s boss Danny Cowley soon after received a card he didn't want at Christmas - a yellow one from the referee for saying something to the fourth official.

But Colchester continued to threaten and Taylor's excellent curled effort hit the top of the crossbar before going off for a goal-kick.

Gillingham’s best chance of the first half came five minutes before the break when Jack Nolan's low shot was parried away by Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey, who then collected the follow up from Max Clark as the hosts went in at half-time ahead.

Colchester came out for the second half in the same manner as they had the first - on the attack.

They almost doubled their lead when Payne tapped wide at the near post from Egbo's low cross into the six-yard box.

Gillingham substitute Bradley Dack saw his 25-yard free-kick saved by Macey midway through the second half before with 18 minutes remaining, Colchester made a triple change, bringing on Tom Hopper, JK Gordon and Teddy Bishop in a bid to clinch the victory.

Macey made a fine save to tip Robbie McKenzie's well-struck effort over for a corner before substitute Gordon doubled Colchester's lead in the 85th minute, firing home after Hopper had capitalised on a Gillingham defensive error.

Payne missed a decent chance before the end but it did not matter, as the U's continued their fine form with a fine victory.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Macey, Egbo, Flanagan, Donnelly, Iandolo, McDonnell, Read (sub Bishop, 73), Thorn (sub Anderson, 60), Payne, Edwards (sub Gordon, 73), Taylor (sub Hopper, 73).

Substitutes (not used): Kelleher, Goodliffe, Smith.

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Masterson (sub Dack, 63), Ehmer, Clark (sub Little, 46), Coleman (sub Andrews, 80), McKenzie, Clarke, Nolan (sub Ogie, 46), Rowe (sub Dieng, 63), Nevitt.

Substitutes (not used): J Williams, Turner.

Referee: Farai Hallam.

Goals: Colchester: Taylor (6), Gordon (85).

Bookings: Colchester: Egbo (foul, 75), McDonnell (foul, 77). Gillingham: Ogie (foul, 86), Clarke (unsporting behaviour, 90).

Attendance: 5,934 (884 Gillingham fans).