TWO goals in the space of a second-half minute from Paul McShane and Diomansy Kamara shattered Colchester's stunning 14-game unbeaten home record.

Ireland international McShane's first league strike for the club in the 51^st minute and Kamara's 19^th of the season just 60 seconds later fired Tony Mowbray's men into a deserved 2-0 lead.

In a pulsating opening to the second period, Johnnie Jackson pulled one back for the U's just three minutes later to set up a tense final half hour.

But rock-solid Albion were rarely troubled and had plenty of chances to extend their advantage.

The Baggies' fourth successive away win propelled them back above Blues into second spot - just four points behind leaders Derby.

Mowbray rang two changes for Albion's first-ever league trip to Layer Road, with John Hartson and Darren Carter replacing Kevin Phillips and Jason Koumas.

Colchester named an unchanged starting XI after 15-goal joint-top scorer Chris Iwelumo passed a late fitness test.

Albion started solidly and recorded the game's first effort on goal in the fifth minute.

When Colchester only partially cleared the marauding McShane's right-wing cross, Richard Chaplow seized on the loose ball and saw a 20-yard grass-cutter deflect just wide.

From Robert Koren's ensuing corner, Zoltan Gera flashed a near-post header just over.

The game was being played at a frenetic pace, with both sides working feverishly all over the park.

Kamara was the next to try his luck from distance in the 11^th minute but was way off target with a 25-yard snapshot.

Albion enjoyed the lion's share of possession during the opening exchanges but Colchester made life difficult for them by packing plenty of men behind the ball.

When the Baggies did get behind the U's defence in the 17^th minute, danger-man Kamara had penalty appeals turned away by referee Martin Atkinson after clashing with Colchester centre-half Wayne Brown inside the area.

Albion continued to ask all the questions and Carter saw a speculative 30-yard effort fly straight at United keeper Dean Gerken, who gathered at the second attempt.

Kamara collected the ball on the halfway line in the 27^th minute and had the Colchester defence back-pedalling all the way to their own penalty area before Brown stepped in to block the Senegal star's dangerous-looking drive.

Chaplow was making a habit of shooting on sight and saw another long-range missile fizz two yards wide after his fancy footwork had left his marker for dead.

Colchester did not record their first effort on goal until the 33^rd minute when 15-goal striker Jamie Cureton was afforded too much space on the edge of the Albion box.

Thankfully for Mowbray's men, the pint-sized forward fired just wide of Dean Kiely's right-hand post from 25 yards.

Moments later, Jackson tried his luck from similar distance but Kiely was equal to the U's midfielder's low drive.

Colchester enjoyed their best spell as the half drew to a close but Kem Izzet was way off target with a first-time 30-yard strike before the West Yorkshire official blew up for the interval.

Albion went close within seconds of the re-start when Colchester conceded possession on the edge of their own penalty area.

The alert Hartson pounced on the loose ball and curled a shot inches wide of the left-hand post from 20 yards.

The Baggies continued to keep the U's pegged back and Gera lashed a 30-yard effort over the bar - and above the Baggies fans packed into the away end.

But the visitors finally grabbed a deserved lead in the 51^st minute.

Right-back McShane threw himself at Koren's inswinging corner and bundled the ball past Gerken to bag his first Baggies goal away from The Hawthorns.

And Albion were in dreamland just 60 seconds later.

Kamara cut in from the left flank and charged at the United defence before turning U's centre-half Matthew Mills inside out and coolly despatching the ball inside the far corner with clinical precision.

However, Colchester earned themselves an instant lifeline by pulling one back in the 55^th minute.

Kevin Watson's corner wreaked havoc in the Albion box and Jackson was on hand to head home at the far post.

The goal gave United renewed belief and Kiely had to be alert to palm over Cureton's terrific 20-yard curler in the 62^nd minute.

Albion regrouped and Mills had to take evasive action by cutting out Kamara's low 74^th-minute cross to deny Carter a simple tap-in.

Koren whipped in the following corner and McShane headed just wide of the near post.

Skipper Curtis Davies created a great chance for himself 13 minutes from time when he carried the ball from the halfway line and exchanged a clever one-two with Kamara to get a clear sight of goal.

The England Under-21 international composed himself, only to shoot straight at Gerken who saved with his legs.

At the other end, Kiely showed terrific reflexes to keep out Iwelumo's ferocious 18-yard half-volley six minutes from time.

In the 86^th minute, the Albion fans were celebrating when they thought Gerken had failed to prevent McShane's downward header from Carter's corner crossing the line - but the man in black waved play on.

Substitute Sherjill MacDonald also went agonisingly close in the 89^th minute when he twisted and turned his marker before lashing a 20-yard exocet inches wide.