FOOTBALL is well and truly back.

All the emotions, all of the highs and lows, the drama, the excitement, the controversy, it was all there, in Colchester United’s eventful opening game of the season at AFC Wimbledon.

In the unlikely scenario that any U’s fans were thinking this campaign would be different, that they would be spared any of the frustration and disappointment felt in the last four seasons, such idealistic thoughts were quickly banished at Plough Lane.

READ MORE: Johnnie Jackson's verdict on AFC Wimbledon win over U's

Danny Cowley hopes he has built a Colchester squad capable of challenging at the right end of the League Two table this time around but whatever happens, it is certain that there will be plenty of ups and downs.

The U’s could not have got the season off to a better start.

When Ben Goodliffe was afforded the freedom of the AFC Wimbledon penalty area to stoop and head home Jack Payne’s excellent cross after just 54 seconds, it sent 1,000 Colchester fans behind the goal into dreamland.

And when Goodliffe sent an even better header past former U’s goalkeeper Owen Goodman for the visitors’ second barely nine minutes later, once again from a pinpoint Payne cross, life couldn’t have been much better for Colchester.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

But as soon as James Ball’s rather fortuitous strike halved the deficit in the 13th minute, the momentum seemed to swing in the favour of the Dons, who prior to that had been pretty shell-shocked.

Jake Reeves duly drove home a fine equaliser on the half hour, before the first moment of controversy in the U’s embryonic season arrived just before half-time.

JK Gordon was adjudged to have handled in the area; Wimbledon were awarded a penalty, Matty Stevens converted and the U’s went in at half-time behind.

When Omar Bugiel netted Wimbledon’s fourth early in the second half, Colchester were left with a mountain to climb, one that proved too substantial to overcome.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on AFC Wimbledon defeat

There were some good elements to the U’s performance and in spells, they looked effective, particularly early on.

But they also appeared blunt and disjointed at times and Danny Cowley was naturally disappointed with the outcome, particularly after seeing his side make such a good start.

“When you concede four goals, you don’t expect to win football matches,” admitted the U’s boss, who was also quick to acknowledge that this is very early days for his new-look side.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

The fact that there were six debutants in the Colchester starting line-up, which featured only three players from the side that started their final game of last season against Crewe Alexandra (Arthur Read, Tom Hopper and Ellis Iandolo) illustrated just how much change has taken place at the club over the summer months.

The impact will therefore not be instant.

The U's are a work in progress; it will inevitably take time for this U's team to gel and there will be bumps in the road.

The Cowleys will probably have learnt more from this performance and result than any of their pre-season games and it is now integral that the U’s use this painful defeat as a steep learning experience, in these early days of the new season.