LEADER Tommy Elphick is determined to do everything in his power to feature prominently in Cherries’ promotion bid after making a winning return to action.

The influential centre-half helped Cherries enhance their League One prospects by producing a faultless performance in his comeback appearance.

Elphick, starting for the first time since suffering a knee injury at MK Dons on February 2, played his part as Brett Pitman’s first-half goal handed Cherries a 1-0 win – their third in a row on the road – at Colchester.

The victory, which came after a dominant display from Eddie Howe’s men, saw Cherries reclaim a place in the top two ahead of Monday’s home clash with Scunthorpe (3pm).

Captain Elphick, an unused substitute in the club’s past two games, told the Daily Echo: “I was just glad to be back. I feel physically fine. The knee held up well.

“There were a couple of twinges and, in the first 10 or 15 minutes, I wasn’t as technically clean as I would have liked and my timing was a bit out. But the longer the game went on, the more comfortable I felt and I was just refreshing the memory.

“Monday is going to come around quickly so it is important we recover, me more than anybody having been out for so long. But then after that, we are lucky we have got Saturday games all the way in.

“In the next couple of days, I will sacrifice a little bit of my life and make sure I am doing everything possible to recover for Monday.

“I am lucky that the team hasn’t really changed much and coming into a side which is winning and high on confidence helps.”

Boss Howe promoted Elphick from the bench at the expense of Dan Seaborne and, in truth, the defender could hardly have wished for a more comfortable return.

Aside from a bright opening which included some strong forward play by Jabo Ibehre, Colchester rarely threatened.

Lewis Grabban, without a goal in his previous nine outings, was denied by Colchester keeper Sam Walker on 17 minutes before Cherries stamped their authority moments later.

Grabban found the lively Matt Ritchie on the right and after the former Swindon star had expertly delivered a low cross, master marksman Pitman needed no second invitation. Showing the quality which has seen him score in Cherries’ previous three games, he got across his man to thump a right-footed drive past Walker.

Forced to replace the injured Eunan O’Kane with Shaun MacDonald, Cherries were not knocked out of their stride. Harry Arter was the provider when Marc Pugh came within inches of doubling the lead, his pinpoint cross picking out the winger whose header cannoned back off the woodwork.

Comfortably in charge, the only negative was Cherries’ inability to capitalise on their dominance.

Grabban, impressive in his general play, again failed to end his drought as he dragged wide when clear on goal.

The theme continued after the break as Simon Francis could only warm the gloves of Walker after advancing down the right, with Arter then foiled by the keeper after a storming raid on the opposite flank.

Arter was orchestrating proceedings in the centre of the park and he lashed straight at Walker after starting and finishing another sweeping Cherries attack involving the hard-working Grabban.

Walker then just about managed to palm a ferocious Arter strike over the crossbar after the highly impressive midfielder had again displayed his skills.

This ground had been the scene of the emotional final match of Howe’s first reign but there was never likely to be such drama on this occasion as Cherries held out without any scares in the face of a late push from the hosts.

Colchester: (4-4-2) Walker; Wilson, Okuonghae, Thompson, Garmston (White, 64); Massey, Bond, Clifford, Compton (Drey Wright, 72); Morrison (Smith, 73), Ibehre. Unused subs: David Wright, Hewitt, Bean, Cousins (g/k).

Booked: White Cherries: (4-4-2) Allsop 7; Francis 7.5, Cook 7.5, Elphick 8, Daniels 7; Ritchie 7.5, Arter 8.5*, O’Kane (MacDonald, 28, 7.5), Pugh 7 (Hughes, 90); Grabban 7.5 (Tubbs, 87), Pitman 8. Unused subs: McQuoid, Seaborne, Fogden, Jalal (g/k).

Booked: O’Kane Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands) Attendance: 4,727 (including 928 away supporters)