A performance to put the colour back Charlton Athletic 1 Colchester United 0
I know most of you have had to put up with some real dross this season, but I left The Valley last night thrilled at seeing a fighting and committed display in a pulsating match. Remember this is the 3rd Division, even from afar I long gave up on watching 100 grand a week fancy-dans performing tricks with a Mitre size 5.

Colchester are the modern day version of Wimbledon and lofted the ball into our box at every opportunity. Christ I looked at Clive Platt as he came over to the East Stand and wondered if he was actually wearing a pair of my blue trousers so long were his legs. And then there is Kevin Lisbie, a reminder of the glory days and how far we have fallen. Oh.

Obviously we lack in the striking stakes, my mate said to me as we all watched Akpo Sodje hopelessly mistime an attempted header for the 150th time (see photo), "People used to moan about Burton but he is head and shoulders above the rest." Akpo is simply a 3rd Division lump, and not a very good one but like Laurie Abrahams he gave me and others around me a good laugh. That is really what one pays to watch. You can stick your Alan Shearers.

Nicky Forster mind knows his way around a penalty box, a superb bullet diving header from a much more engaged Lloyd Sam's peach of a cross. Sam turned the unfortunate John-Joe O’Toole inside and out so badly that he had to be carried off on a stretcher. He got a warm round of applause for his embarrassment. Meanwhile Forster gave it out to the Colchester fans behind the goal after he scored. You got to love that.

For spells we played some nice committed football, too many long balls for Forster for my liking coinciding with Racon losing touch with the game in the 2nd half but no one can question the players commitment against a side that stuffed Swindon on Saturday and are a serious play-off contenders.

Dailly was immense and showed terrific awareness and concentration the whole game despite marking players almost a head taller than him and a bloke with his hair in an elastic band who thought he was playing for Argentina circa 1978. Then whilst his brother up field had trouble spotting the ball in the air as it headed down towards his head, Sam's rubber neck was working overtime heading every bullet back with interest that was fired in his general direction. I blame the parents.

Borrowdale impressed me, especially in the first half and Richardson looked back to his early season best, but man of the match, and there were plenty of candidates, for me was Semedo. He was an absolute rock in the middle ostensibly involved in every single tackle and tussle. The Covered End responded with his fellow countryman's Jorge Costa remix.

All around me people were in good spirits, although Mooney's introduction was not well received. The bloke behind me said the cupping of the ear will never be forgotten. Hopefully Deon Burton can join Forster up front on Saturday.

Finally the atmosphere and noise last night was fantastic. My son and I got to my brothers in London Fields after the game with hoarse voices, a red glow in our cheeks and springs in our step. Next please.

Other Addicks at The Valley: Drinking During the Game; Charlton Athletic Online; Addicks Diary; Charlton Casual; Stickleback; And Nothing Else Matters; Doctor Kish;  ¶ 13:02