Former Ipswich Town defender Georges Santos capitalised on a mistake to give Queens Park Rangers Reserves victory over Colchester United's second string at Layer Road.
It was the first game of the Pontins Holidays Combination League season for the two sides and looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw.
However, a mistake by Liam Coleman cost the U's any chance of taking a point away from the encounter.
Coleman had managed to track back and tackle Kevin McLeod, but his toe-poke back to goalkeeper Dean Gerken was adjudged to be a backpass and referee Ray Lee gave a free-kick.
From the dead ball, Santos was able to find a way through the bodies packed on the U's line to score.
Colchester, however, were not finished and deep in injury time they had chances to level through a Ben Bowditch header and a Stephen Hunt strike.
The late spark of action gave the game an exciting finish to what had otherwise been a quiet affair.
Published Thursday August 19, 2004
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