Swindon Town are proving to be a major bogey side for Colchester United.

Up for it - the U's Stephen Hunt wins the ball in the air against Swindon Town

They doubled the U's last season and inflicted their first home defeat this term. And just for good measure, the U's have now mustered just one win over the Robins in the last 15 outings spanning 21 years.

This match between two top ten teams should have heralded a winning baptism for U's new boys, attacking midfielder Richard Garcia from West Ham and ex-Crystal Palace striker Gareth Williams, who was beginning his third spell at Layer Road.

But sadly for the U's it was another striker - ex-Chelsea goal-getter Sam Parkin - who stole the show. Swindon's joint top-scorer took just seven minutes to make his mark when stealing in front of home defender Liam Chilvers to score with a stooping-header from a low left-wing cross from David Duke.

The visitors clearly came to Layer Road looking for a win and only three great full-length saves by U's keeper Aidan Davison to stop fierce shots by Brian Howard, Sammy Igoe and Darius Henderson denied them a comfortable lead by half-time.

The U's mounted a tremendous second-half fightback but Swindon held firm to record their second away win.

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Published Monday, September 6, 2004

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