COLCHESTER United got their Bristol Street Motors Trophy Southern Group E campaign off to a winning start tonight with a 2-1 victory over MK Dons.

Fiacre Kelleher scored the U's second-half winner, after Anthony Scully's penalty had cancelled out Stephen Wearne's opener for Dons, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

It was a morale-boosting victory for the much-changed Colchester team, who claimed the points from the group opener.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made 11 changes to his starting line-up, following the 3-3 draw at Morecambe at the weekend.

Matt Jay made his first competitive start for the U’s since January 13, while goalkeeper Tom Smith returned between the sticks for the first time since last December.

On-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Jamie McDonnell was handed his debut and Kelleher made his first league start of the season, while Tom Hopper skippered the side.

Fifteen-year-old Lennox Emery was on the bench along with fellow academy player, goalkeeper Harrison Chamberlain.

It was a slow and rather muted start to proceedings but Colchester were forced into an early change when winger Harry Anderson was forced off with an injury and replaced by Mandela Egbo.

And U’s keeper Smith did well to race out and bravely save at the feet of Stephen Wearne and avert the danger, as the visitors began to threaten.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

Joe White's shot into the ground sailed wide of the target from inside the area for Dons soon after and the visitors looked the more threatening of the two sides, as the contest progressed.

Indeed, Colchester fell behind in the 34th minute when Stephen Wearne headed home well at the far post, following Jack Tucker's deep cross into the box.

It was a deserved lead for the visitors but Colchester got back on level terms, in the 41st minute.

Dean Lewington was adjudged to have fouled Egbo in the box and Anthony Scully, on his first start for the U’s, thumped home the resultant penalty in front of the vacant North Stand.

It was just what Colchester needed but Smith was called into action in first-half stoppage time to save from Sonny Finch, as the sides went in level at the break.

MK Dons made a double change at half-time and started the second half brightly, with Joe Tomlinson's low shot straight at Smith from the edge of the area in the minutes that followed the interval.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

But Colchester took the lead for the first time in the game in the 54th minute when Kelleher hooked home at the far post at the second attempt from Jay's deep corner, after beating Dons goalkeeper Nathan Harness to the ball.

Smith did well to turn over Tomlinson's fierce effort on the hour and then made another fine stop to deny Ilunga, seconds later as the Dons hunted for an equaliser.

A strike from substitute Rian Silver from the edge of the area flashed wide for the visitors as the clock ticked down but Colchester almost made it 3-1 when Kelleher's near-post header was turned over acrobatically by keeper Harness for a corner.

Substitute Connor Lemonheigh-Evans headed a decent chance wide deep into stoppage time for Dons but Colchester claimed victory.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Smith, Hunt, Kelleher, Donnelly, McDonnell (sub Edwards, 72), Read, Anderson (sub Egbo, 17), Gordon, Jay (sub Tovide, 61), Hopper (sub Payne, 62), Scully (sub Bendle, 72).

Substitutes (not used): Emery, Chamberlain.

MK Dons: Harness, Lewington, Tucker, Williams, Tomlinson, Offord (sub Lewis-Burgess, 71), Ilunga (sub Lemonheigh-Evans, 75), White (sub Harrison, 46), Finch (sub Leigh, 46), Wearne, Kelly (sub Silver, 70).

Substitutes (not used): Stacey, Singh-Hurditt.

U's man of the match: Fiacre Kelleher.

Referee: Scott Tallis.

Goals: Colchester: Scully (41), Kelleher (54). MK Dons: Wearne (34).

Bookings: Colchester: Kelleher (foul, 27), McDonnell (foul, 35), Hunt (unsporting behaviour, 79).

Attendance: 1,148 (45 MK Dons fans).