Jake Cole started in goal behind a back four of new signing Lewis Hamilton at right back, John Fletcher and Danny Shittu were at the back and youth team left back Daniel Murphy completed the defence.

Kevin McLeod started on the left of a midfield which featured the two trialists and current club scape goat Georges Santos. Jamie Cureton continued his comeback upfront where he partnered Lee Barnett.

The game itself was an uneventful affair, bereft of chances until the dying seconds. Colchester created two good late chances, heading wide form one and finding substitute Terrell Forbes in fine form to block the second.

As the clock ticked down Colchester defender Liam Coleman made the decisive mistake, his back pass to United keeper was picked up by the ref and a free kick was awarded. Kevin McLeod rolled the ball to Santos, who had earlier come close from a direct free kick of his own, struck home to earn Rangers the points.  

There were run outs for Lee Cook and youngster Stefan Bailey, who both came off the bench but the big news is the return of Shittu, who played the first forty five minutes before making way for Forbes. Dan hasn’t played since January and his return is both amazingly quick and a huge boost for us as we enter a tricky run of fixtures over the coming weeks.

Welcome back big man!