Two goals from Dean McDonald and one from Darren Currie secured the Blues a very comfortable win over Colchester at Layer Road. After a goalless first half, McDonald struck twice just ahead of the hour mark before Currie added a third prior to Greg Halford netting a consolation for the home side.

The Blues lined up with trialists Schumann Bah and Sito in the side, the Guinean in central defence alongside Jason De Vos and Sito at left-back, with Shane Supple in goal. Trialist Mark Fish missed out due to a thigh injury.

Owen Garvan and Jimmy Juan started in the centre of midfield, while Dean McDonald continued up front with Sam Parkin in the absence of Dean Bowditch and Nicky Forster.

Chances were rare in a quiet first half, Darren Currie unleashing the first serious effort of the game in the 20th minute but Colchester keeper, and former Town loanee, Aidan Davison, saved comfortably.

Just before the half hour mark Ian Westlake shot wide after the shaky Davison half-cleared a corner to the edge of the area.

On 34 the Blues passed the ball around slickly and created an opening for Dean McDonald but his shot was deflected through to Davison.

The Blues had had the better of the half but failed to make the most of their possession with McDonald, Currie and a number of others failing to get the ball into the box when well placed.

It was difficult to learn too much about the trialists with the Town' defence only once threatened when Jamie Guy broke through only to hit a weak shot to Shane Supple. Full-back Sito got forward as he did against Atlético Madrid on Friday but defensively was rarely troubled.

The Blues made a number of changes at the break, Richard Naylor took over from Schumann Bah, Kevin Horlock from Jimmy Juan, Matt Richards from Sito and Jim Magilton from Ian Westlake.

Parkin should have opened his goals account in the 50th minute when good work from McDonald gave him a chance at goal, however the former Swindon man mis-hit his shot through to the keeper.

Six minutes later, McDonald put the Blues in front. The former Arsenal trainee cut in from a tight angle inside the penalty area after receiving a throw-in. Surrounded by defenders, the diminutive striker found himself space and hit a shot across Davison and into the net off the far post.

McDonald was on the scoresheet again only three minutes later. Darren Currie crossed from the left, Sam Parkin beat the keeper with a shot which would probably have been cleared off the line but for McDonald diving in to force it over the line.

The game was pretty much a stroll from then on for the Blues who passed the ball around at will and were hardly troubled at the back.

McDonald came close to his hat-trick in the 64th minute when Currie's cross from the left found him on the right. The 19-year-old struck a decent shot but Davison saved.

Currie himself struck an effort across the face of goal soon after, before Parkin made way for Knights. The summer signing still looks like he needs time to gel with the rest of the team and all too often the Blues didn't really play to his strengths, the big striker clearly happier with the ball being played to his feet rather than over the top.

On 70 Kevin Horlock fired a freekick into the wall after McDonald had been fouled on the edge of the area. Currie went closer with his rebound, the ball flying narrowly over Davison's crossbar.

With 15 minutes remaining,g Colchester introduced old boy Lomana Lua Lua, the Democratic Republic of Congo player having been given permission to play by Portsmouth.

The Blues went three goals in front in the 78th minute, McDonald played the ball into the path of Currie who set himself before hitting a low shot to Davison's right.

Town appeared to have settled for their three goals and youngster Chris Casement had replaced Jason De Vos as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

The U's pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining when Richard Naylor failed to control the ball just outside the penalty box, allowing Greg Halford - a reported Town target last season - to snatch it from him, take it into the area and slip it past Supple. Knights and Halford both went close to adding to the goals late in the game.

A fairly easy workout for Town, who were never in danger of losing to the League One side in a game which was a testimonial for Brian Owen, a coach at Town in the 80s and now the physio at Layer Road.

McDonald took his goals well and looked bright and tricky when on the ball but failed to really form a partnership with Parkin.

Garvan once more looked promising, while Currie was probably the pick of the Town midfielders. Aside from the goal, the Town defence was generally in charge and Supple had a quiet evening on what was his first start for the senior side.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, Sito (Richards 46), De Vos (Casement 79), Bah (Naylor 46), Westlake (Magilton 46), McDonald, Garvan, Parkin (Knights 65), Currie, Juan (Horlock 46). Att: 3,186.

Photo: Action Images

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