Colchester United kept their unbeaten run going in their pre-season friendly fixtures with a narrow win at Conference South side Grays.

Wayne Brown and Wayne Andrews struck the goals that secured the victory in a solid-looking first-half display on Saturday.

However, a complete change of team at half-time saw the game drop into nothing better than a workout for the U's as they went on to concede a goal in a dour second period.

Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson's justification for changing his team completely was because of the long week that the U's have had with two pre-season friendlies already under their belt.

He said: "We've been training hard all week and with the games we've played I felt it was best to use a team per half."

Parkinson's decision is understandable, but the quality of passing and decision-making of the team in the second period did leave a lot to be desired.

The first-half team were without doubt the most experienced of the two and players like Kevin Watson, Wayne Brown and Aidan Davison kept the side organised while also supplying the livewire duo of Andrews and Jamie Cade.

The solid back four of Brown, Greg Halford, John White and Garry Richards kept things so tight that the most Davison had to do was collect a handful of crosses, which he did with ease.

It was a world apart from what youngster Dean Gerken had to deal with in goal during the second half.

The teenager was forced to run out and confront oncoming attacks throughout the 45 minutes.

He performed well, but eventually something had to give and Tony Taggart's shot on 75 minutes managed to edge past Gerken's outstretched arm and find the bottom corner.

Published Monday July 19, 2004

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