Two goals in the second half condemned the U's to defeat at their first home game of the season as AFC Wimbledon took the points.
Colchester were able to finally kick-off their home campaign on Tuesday night as they welcomed AFC Wimbledon to the JobServe Community Stadium.
Having fallen to a narrow defeat at Bradford on Saturday, the U’s were looking to pick up three points and kick-start their season.
John Akinde had a glorious chance after eighteen minutes to open the scoring. The forward latched on to an Arthur Read through ball but his effort and follow-up were both saved by Alex Bass.
Omar Bugiel had several decent chances to put the Dons ahead, but some great goalkeeping from Owen Goodman and some crucial blocks from Tom Dallison halted the visitors on a number of occasions.
Joe Taylor also clipped the post in the first half, in what was turning into an end-to-end affair between the two sides.
The U’s started the second half with a lot more purpose and quickness, but it would be Wimbledon who took the lead.
Josh Neufville got the better of Nico Lawrence on the left-hand side and fired the ball across goal for James Tilley to smash into an empty net.
Colchester continued to have more of the ball in the second half but were struggling to breach the resolute Wimbledon defence.
The U’s nearly found themselves 1-0 down after the opening minutes, after a loose ball from Connor Hall was picked up by the visitors, but the tracking Read managed to prevent the Wimbledon forward from getting a shot away.
A high press that is becoming the norm under Ben Garner was on display in front of the home supporters, with Noah Chilvers – who was making his 150th appearance in all competitions – leading the charge.
Dallison had to throw himself towards an incoming shot from Bugiel to prevent an opener for Johnnie Jackson’s side but the Dons continued to put the pressure on in the opening exchanges.
Ali Al-Hamadi was the next to have his chance to score. The striker found space in the box and connected to a cross but his header was wide of the mark.
Owen Goodman then had to make a diving save less than a minute later. He parry fell to Tilley in the six-yard box but Dallison was there again to get the block in.
Akinde had a superb opportunity to silence the away fans after finding himself one-on-one with Bass in the penalty box.
His first effort clipped the keepers legs on the way through to the goal and his prodded second attempt dribbled just past the near post.
Goodman had to get down well again to stop another Wimbledon counter. His save came back out into the box and Dallison was there again to prod it out for a corner.
A few minutes later Chilvers unleashed a shot from thirty yards after taking the ball on the turn well but his effort was comfortable for the keeper.
Some brilliant work from Jayden Fevrier saw the wing-back tee up Joe Taylor on the edge of the box. His low driven effort clipped the post in what was another huge chance for the U’s.
The game lulled in the final ten minutes of the half and the teams went in for the break still tied at 0-0.
Mauro Bandeira made way for Matt Jay as play resumed in North Essex with Garner keen to get a stronger footing in the game.
And it was the U’s who started fast and winning a free-kick on the edge of the box. The delivery from Read was good but Wimbledon did well to clear the danger.
Colchester continued their charge with some fine midfield play involving Jay, Fevrier and Taylor, with the trio combining to send a shot towards goal.
However, it would be the visitors who took the lead ten minutes into the second half, Tilley finding himself unmarked at the back post to tap home from close range.
The chances continued to flow for the Dons as they pushed for a second goal. Ryan Johnson and Al-Hamadi both could have scored but could not convert past Goodman.
Several yellow cards made an appearance as the game wore on. Isaac Ogundere and Tilley were both cautioned for dangerous challenges that prevented the U’s from breaking.
Fevrier had a good chance after cutting in from the left on his right foot but his powerful strike was held by Bass in net.
Substitute Josh Davison was next in the book after preventing Lawrence from taking a quick free-kick as the U’s continued to look for a way back into the game.
In an attempt to rescue some points, Garner opted for a double change with just over ten minutes left to play. Akinde made way for Brad Ihionvien and Mandela Egbo came on to make his Colchester debut having signed earlier in the day.
Tom Hopper entered the fray for the final few minutes but it looked to make no difference as the Dons doubled their advantage in the closing stages.
After winning the ball back in Colchester’s half, Tilley was played in on the far side and powered past Goodman to wrap up the points for the South Londoners.
Ihionvien and Jake Reeves both picked up cautions for offences in the dying minutes as Wimbledon held on to claim all three points in North Essex.
Colchester United XI: Goodman, Hall, Dallison (Egbo, 79), Bandeira (Jay, 46), Chilvers, Read, Tchamadeu, Lawrence, Akinde (Ihionvien, 79), Taylor (Hopper, 83), Fevrier
Subs: Hornby, Greenidge, Jay, Hopper, Egbo, Kazeem, Ihionvien
AFC Wimbledon XI: Bass, Brown, Reeves, Johnson, Tilley, Al-Hamadi (Davison, 72), Neufville, Little, Bugiel (Pell, 72), Lewis, Ogundere
Subs: Tzanev, Pell, Davison, Pearce, Ball, Mclean, Sasu