COLCHESTER United head coach Steve Ball labelled his side's 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers as massive after they registered their first league victory of the season.

Goals from Tom Eastman and Jevani Brown saw the U's triumph at the JobServe Community Stadium, in what was a fine all-round team display.

Ball said: “I was so happy with the all-round performance.

“I want to talk a little about us out of possession.

“There’s been lots spoken about us when we’re in possession which has been great but that’s two clean sheets on the bounce for us now.

“I’ve just said to the players that hopefully we can have a really good season this year and it’s all going to be geared around being solid out of possession.

“We know that if we can get that bit right, we’ll get the other bit right too.

“It was a really important clean sheet against a very good team.

“We knew we’d be facing a very good side – we saw that in the prep.

“The staff have done a very good job this week highlighting Bolton’s really good players.

“Nathan Delfouneso is a top player at this level and we had to stop them – that was the key because they have threats all over the pitch.

“They have big expectations and that’s a big pressure on the club.

“But they do it the right way and they play the right football and I think they’ll click soon so to get a win against them is massive."

Eastman nodded Colchester ahead just before half-time, after Brown had flicked on Cohen Bramall's corner.

And Brown sealed the U's win with 19 minutes remaining, finishing coolly over the advancing Billy Crellin after Miles Welch-Hayes had picked him out.

Ball added: "We'd worked really hard at our set pieces, this week.

"You can see the importance of the stats when you read them on set pieces and how crucial they are.

"When things come off it's great - it was a great delivery, great movement, great flick and a great header.

"It was an old school set piece but they are great goals.

"Jevani has the composure to see where the goalie was.

"Some players in that position might think about hitting it low.

"He nearly scored another one a few minutes later with exactly the same move.