The U's fell behind with just 98 seconds on the clock. The ball was laid back to Wilbraham on the edge of the box and he took the ball forward one stride and drove home his shot into the bottom corner beyond the despairing dive of Dean Gerken.

The home side then almost contrived a chance to equalise on four minutes as good tracking back by Platt saw the ball fall to Perkins on the edge of the box and he had the ball taken off his toes just as he went to shoot.

The fans were not to be quietened though as their side attempted to find a path back into the game. And they had responded well to that early shock as they pressed for an equaliser.

They almost found a way through the Dons defence on thirteen minutes when Yeates and Platt combined to surge towards goal, giving the ball to Jackson, who bundled past two challenges but couldn't find his way past a third to get his shot away.

The U's were still looking tentative at the back though, as twice the Dons caused mischief in the home penalty area only to see it dealt with unconvincingly.

The home team were having the better of the possession but were finding the Dons a tough nut to crack, whilst at the other end Cummings looked like he might get lucky in the box, but couldn't generate any power on his stabbed shot at the near post.

On the half hour mark, Leven should have done better cutting in from the left, but Coyne did well to deflect his shot into the ground away from danger as it went across the six yard box.

Discontent was starting to spread in the stands as the U's looked for that magic formula, and they almost found what they needed on 35 minutes as Jackson knocked down to Yeates, who could only fire over the bar as he was saved his blushes by the offside flag.

Wilbraham became the first player to go into the book for a trip on Ifil, but the game was still not really going in the U's favour as they looked for inspiration and a break of the ball going forward.

Their luck was summed up four minutes before the break as from a free kick twenty yards from goal, Yeates watched on in despair as his effort hit the outside of the post with Gueret well beaten.

And the U's spurned the best chance of the first half as Wasiu found himself in space in the box but instead of opting to throw himself at the header, chose to try and chest down, allowing Gueret to pounce before he got his shot in.

The U's decided to make a change at the start of the second half as they sought a path back into the game. Elito was introduced in place of White as manager Williams went attacking for the second forty-five minutes.

The U's did not start the half brightly though, but were left relieved when they were saved by the offside flag eleven minutes after the restart.

Wright used his pace to burst down the wing and dropped the ball into the area, where it found Wilbraham at the far post, who tucked home.

His celebrations were cut short by the officials flag and for the first time in the afternoon, the home crowd came alive on the three sides of the ground as they got behind their team.

It had enlivened their team and they were livelier going forward and more competitive in the tackle.

An hour on the clock, and the U's freshened things up by bringing on Scott Vernon in place of Wasiu.

The play continued to be towards the Colchester goal though and Gerken was a relieved man midway through the second half when he failed to connect with a punch but Llera and O'Hanlon got in each other's way when a clean shot for either would have seen a second goal.

The Dons then had another good chance to extend their advantage when a sustained spell of possession ended with Wilbraham dinking one to the far post and Wright stretching to put his effort only inches wide of the upright.

With just over 70 minutes gone, the U's thought they had a shout for a penalty as Vernon was felled in the box, but the linesman's flag this time ended the home side's claims.

The U's then made their final throw of the dice, introducing Hammond for Izzet for the final stages of the game.

The Dons themselves then had a shout for a penalty as Jackson blocked a shot with his body - not his hands - but the visitors were turning the screw as the final ten minutes approached.

Hammond had brought fresh life to the U's cause as he drove forward from midfield but the home side were slower to join in going forwards than the Dons when they bore down on goal.

And that came to bear five minutes from the end when another horror show at the back saw the Dons double their advantage.

There seemed to be no real danger, but Reid got caught on the ball by Baldock and he got away from his man to bury the ball in the bottom corner of the net, causing a mass exodus.

And that dispersal of fans stepped up another level when Baldock made the most of a defensive lapse to score a soul destroying third of the match.

The anger in the crowd was clear and frustration boiled over with one or two individuals losing their cool to confront manager Williams by the dugout. It was less than savoury and not pleasant to see.

The day ended in disappointment as the U's lost at home for the first time at their new stadium - and the manager's woes go on.