Agoal after 30 seconds was enough to send the Dons to a 1-0 defeat at Colchester. Former Ipswich stalwart Micky Stockwell quickly found himself free on the right-hand side, and his low cross was bundled into the net by the on-rushing Scott McLeish.

It was game the Dons should have won handsomely by half-time, but they met in Andy Woodman a goalkeeper in outstanding form. The former Crystal Palace, Brentford and Northampton stopper pulled off a string of world-class saves to deny Par Karlsson, Patrick Agyemang, Michael Hughes and Wayne Grasy. Karlsson also rapped a shot against the foot of a post and should certainly have made one of his two gilt-edged opportunities count.

Despite the Dons' dominance, Colchester looked to have made it 2-0 before the interval when McLeish latched onto a weak Des Byrne header and rolled the ball past Paul Heald. However, the Dons were relieved to see the goal controversially ruled out for offside before trooping off for half-time.

Colchester boss Steve Witton too Woodman off at half-time, much to the relief of the Dons' strikers, but they were unable to capitalise in a drab second-half which saw neither side produce anything of any note.

Agyemang could have salvaged a draw late on, but Woodman's replacement Simon Brown was equal to the effort and denied the young striker.

One bright note in an otherwise disappointing afternoon was the return to action of Duncan Jupp after ten months on the sideline with an ankle injury.