The match had started off in lively fashion as three goals went in with just eleven minutes on the clock, but a controversial red card for Clive Platt saw the sting taken out of the game and killed off what had promised to be a fantastic conclusion to the friendly programme.

The U's were a goal down at the point of the dismissal but stuck doggedly to their defensive tasks to keep Wanderers at bay on a sweltering afternoon.

For a split second it looked as though the U's new signing had an opportunity to shoot, but he instead opted to go for the cross across the face of goal, which was just in front of the onrushing Izzet.

The visiting defence then had a nervous moment with Platt lingering - Al Habsi and Meite clashing as they went for the same ball, and the defender had to rush to clear his lines.

The U's had started brightly and they took a deserved lead with just six minutes on the clock.

The ball was fed low into the box and Lisbie turned sharply to find himself in space and fired a low shot past the dive of Al Habsi.

The visitors had a chance to pull level almost immediately, a chance which Anelka spurned, but they were only behind for three minutes.

Tricky forward Vaz Te twisted and turned past Yeates down the left and went down under a challenge from the U's man.

Colchester's fans were not convinced there had been contact, but Speed made no mistake with the penalty, despite Gerken going the right way.

And in a lively opening to the game, the visitors took the lead with a goal of Premiership class.

The ball started on the right and, in a series of one touch passes across the face of the box, Speed, Anelka and Davies helped it into the path of Vaz Te, who finished crisply past Gerken.

The officials had riled the home support with the penalty award and early decisions appeared to be going against the U's.

The home side nearly pulled level on the quarter hour mark, though, as Yeates picked up a loose ball and outwitted Meite, putting the ball one side and going the other.

He struck a fierce low shot that forced Al Habsi into a good save and the keeper had to scramble to cover the rebound as Platt rushed in.

The Colchester number nine was proving to be a willing runner and was cursing his luck when a low Duguid cross was cut out at the last by Nolan.

The home side were showing some good invention in the final third, and Yeates and McLeod swapped flanks in the middle quarter of an hour of the half.

Yet the U's were breathing a sigh of relief on 26 minutes when, as Gerken dropped a cross from a corner - possibly with the sun in his eyes - McCann could only lift his shot over the bar.

The officials were in the thick of the action two minutes later though, as Platt and Michalik came together as a ball forward came to earth.

The referee adjudged that Platt had elbowed the Slovakian and, despite the 'friendly' status of the game, showed an astonished U's man the red card.

The home crowd were furious and even Wanderers players were talking to the referee after the decision to show their disappointment.

The sending off took the steam out of the game for the U's somewhat as, a man down, they had to work even harder to get close to a ball that Bolton were moving around well.

In some ways, the dismissal would not have been of benefit to the visitors either as boss Lee would have been hoping for a competitive toe to toe encounter.

It also seemed to make it harder for Wanderers, as the U's backed off a little and it was not until four minutes before half time that they had their next chance.

Anelka worked himself some space on the edge of the box and Gerken collected at his post as the ball looked like it was going just wide.

Anelka then sent in Vaz Te down the left and his low shot was blocked well by Duguid, who had recovered his position well.

The U's then tested Al Habsi again, a deep cross thrust into the box which the Oman keeper dealt with unconvincingly as Lisbie went up against him.

The visitors made four changes at half time as Hunt, Diouf, Faye and Jamieson came on for the second forty-five.

The home side kept the same ten players and they faced a tough task in the second half against the full strength Premiership side.

The U's fans took the difficult situation in good humour, though, displaying their usual wit in the blazing sunshine.

Boss Geraint Williams made his first change ten minutes into the second half, bringing on Jamie Guy for Lisbie. But the young striker would have to work hard to see much of the ball as the visitors turned the screw.

And that substitution was followed by four more Bolton changes as Nolan, McCann, Sinclair were replaced by Campo, Alonso and Guthrie.

Wanderers were stroking the ball around well with the extra space the man advantage gave them and one clever move ended with Anelka attempting a cheeky backheel that Gerken dived well to save.

In an attempt to bring some balance to the game, Bolton boss Lee made the unusual step of taking off defender Michalik and not replacing him - taking the last quarter of the game as a ten v ten game.

It was a defender on the U's side, though, who was playing a starring role. Elokobi was fully justifying his selection as he continued his superb pre-season with another excellent display.

With twenty minutes remaining, the supporters got the substitution they had been waiting for as Sheringham made his debut in a U's shirt, coming on for McLeod.

Geraint Williams also introduced Guttridge in place of Yeates, who had worked hard but had little joy out of his full backs.

Baldwin took his lead from his fellow defender Elokobi with thirteen minutes left as he saw off a one on one with Anelka with the striker seemingly clear to extend the lead.

The U's were lifted by that and went down the other end as Sheringham laid the ball into Jackson, whose attempted curler past Al Habsi was straight down the keeper's throat.