The year 2000 has got off to a flying start for Colchester United - thanks to their ability to learn from mistakes.

Amidst the euphoria of last weekend's 5-4 thriller against Bristol Rovers it hardly seemed fair to dwell on defensive blunders.

But the harsh fact remained that the U's virtually gave their visitors four goals - something manager Steve Whitton cited as a cause for concern in his after-match post mortem.

At chilly Meadow Lane on Saturday the U's signalled their intention to put the past behind them with a stirring defensive display.

And that despite the absence of Aaron Skelton - who broke down in training on Friday with a groin injury - and the crocked Titus Bramble.

In came debutant Ross Johnson while namesake Gavin dropped back to complete the five-man rearguard.

Jason Dozzell took his place in midfield while Jamie Moralee and Kelechi Opara were drafted into attack.

The emphasis was on defence in the 24th minute when goalkeeper Simon Brown pulled off a spectacular reflex save.

Richard Holmes charged into space down the right before whipping a cross into the path of Craig Rammage.

The former Derby striker unleashed a volley which looked destined for the roof of the net - only to see his effort tipped over by Brown.

Steve McGavin, a two-goal hero of the Rovers triumph, was rewarded for a lively start six minutes later thanks to the pace and trickery of Opara.

The teenager weaved his way into the Magpies' box before being tugged back by both Matthew Redmile and Mark Warren.

Referee Michael Ryan awarded a penalty and McGavin made no mistake from the spot, tucking his low shot inside goalkeeper Darren Ward's right-hand post.

The striker afterwards revealed that Lomana Tresor Lua Lua was the only other candidate for the job of penalty taker, assuming the duty from David Greene.

But with the Zaire-born striker again starting on the bench the responsibility fell on McGavin's shoulders.

In first-half stoppage time the former Birmingham ace - who had just been booked for a foul on Paul Bolland - bagged his second of the match and his tenth of the season.

Again Opara was the provider following a surging run down the right and a teasing cross which flashed across the goal.

McGavin nipped in between a hesitant Gary Owers and Ward to nudge the ball home from four yards.

And the U's top scorer came close to registering his first hat-trick in senior football shortly after the break when the ball landed at his feet two yards from goal after a header by Greene.

McGavin got a deft touch but Ward pounced to smother on his line.

Given the score and given County's promotion aspirations the pattern of the second-half seemed inevitable.

The hosts threw men forward and earned a succession of corners but appeared to lack any cutting edge.

Having said that, after the drama of last weekend, the U's were taking nothing for granted and worked tirelessly to defend their advantage.

Brown leapt to his right to push a shot from Kevin Rapley round the post before the striker finally gave County a lifeline, hooking a shot over his head from 16 yards which sailed over the U's defence and into the net.

The hosts continued to press but hadn't reckoned on a stubborn Colchester defence, typified in the dying seconds when Joe Dunne scrambled the ball to safety after a melee in the box.

Ten points from a possible 15 is hardly relegation form and, if teams like Rovers and County are to be considered promotion hopefuls, the U's surely have the armoury to put further distance between themselves and the bottom four in the coming weeks.

The next test of their new resolve will come in the rearranged home match with old rivals Wycombe today.

Action from Saturday's Colchester triumph

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.