COLCHESTER United registered their first League Two win of the season this afternoon with an impressive 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Goals in each half from Tom Eastman and Jevani Brown sealed the U's an excellent win at the JobServe Community Stadium, in the first meeting between the two sides for more than 30 years.

Colchester were superbly defensively, with Eastman and stand-in skipper Tommy Smith in particular outstanding.

And at the other end, they took their chances when they came along to secure three points.

Colchester head coach Steve Ball made one change to his starting line-up for their game against Bolton.

Captain Harry Pell missed out due to a groin injury, so winger Courtney Senior was handed his first league start of the season and Smith took the captain’s armband.

Former U’s midfielder Brandon Comley started against his former club.

It was an entertaining start to the contest, with Bolton left-back Liam Gordon ghosting in and controlling the ball before shooting over the bar in the fifth minute, after Jak Hickman’s fine pass opened up the U’s defence.

But at the other end a minute later, Tom Eastman found space just inside the area and drove a shot-cum-cross across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.

Noah Chilvers fired a shot just over the bar soon after a swift Colchester break, while at the other end Gethin Jones picked up possession on the right side of the area before curling a low shot just wide of the far post as the game ebbed and flowed.

Experienced Bolton striker Nathan Delfouneso ran at the Colchester defence before planting a shot just wide of the post and the visitors came even closer midway through the first half when Ali Crawford’s low shot comes back off the post after they had got in behind the Colchester defence.

But Kwame Poku's low shot was saved by keeper Billy Crellin who then dived on the ball to foil the following up Senior.

And just when it looked like the first half might finish goal-less, Colchester struck a few minutes before the break.

Eastman headed firmly in unmarked after Brown had flicked on Cohen Bramall's corner to give the U's the lead at half-time.

Bolton thought they had equalised with the second half barely three minutes old when Alex Baptiste header from Comley’s cross was disallowed for offside.

And the visitors went close again when a fine piece of skill by Delfouneso saw him get clear of his marker and curl in a shot that flew just wide of the far post.

Midway through the second half, Eoin Doyle’s weak shot straight at Gerken after the striker had picked up the ball in the area.

But Colchester doubled their lead with 19 minutes remaining through Jevani Brown, who calmly lifted the ball past the on-rushing keeper Crellin and in from the edge of the area after being picked out by Miles Welch-Hayes’ fine through pass.

Sammie McLeod came on in the final stages for his professional debut and Brown stabbed wide at the near post before the end, as Colchester claimed a fine win.