Colchester United got their pre-season games off to a winning start, thanks to a goal in each half against Maldon & Tiptree.
In a match where the U's were always in control, they had to wait until just before half time to get their noses in front as Doug Loft struck low and true to beat the goalkeeper.
Louis Dunne grabbed the second after a mistake from the man between the sticks for Maldon, and it was a good exercise for John McGreal's men.
The U's peppered the home side's goal in the opening half, with Edge, O'Sullivan, Murray and Loft all getting sights of goal.
There was some tidy interchange in and around the Maldon box, but the U's couldn't quite find a route to goal until Loft's low effort moments before the break.
As expected, the U's made wholesale changes at the break, ensuring all of the players got vital minuts in their quest for fitness.
Dunne grabbed the second ten minutes into the second half, grabbing the loose ball after the goalkeeper couldn't hold Slater's free kick and tucking home from close range.
In sweltering conditions, the U's maintained control of the match as it wound its way to a conclusion and, although Maldon almost got in around the back a couple of times, Tom Lapslie was on hand to see away the danger in trademark fashion.
A solid victory to get the friendlies underway, and it's off to Needham next up.
U's first half: Barnes, Jackson, Eastman, James, Kent, Edge, Loft, O'Sullivan, Murray, Wright, Johnstone (Szmodics 30).
U's second half: Walker, Kinsella, Wynter, Kent (Eastman 66 (James 80)), Vincent-Young, Lapslie, Slater, Dunne, Sembie-Ferris, Bonne, Szmodics (Triallist 66)