The opening game at The Weston Homes Community Stadium ended goalless between the U's and Huddersfield Town this afternoon.

Colchester United's new era started much like its Football League history with a goalless draw at The Weston Homes Community Stadium against Huddersfield Town. Mark Yeates came closest to breaking the deadlock with a freekick that clipped the top of the crossbar but in truth, the U's lack penetration to seriously trouble Matt Glennon in the Terriers goal.

United's new stadium shone in the August sun with hopes high that the U's could regain their Championship status at the first attempt. Geraint Williams gave home debuts to four U's players. Paul Reid, Matt Lockwood, Steven Gillespie all had the opportunity to show the home faithful what they were about while young Anthony Wordsworth started his first home game on the left hand side of the midfield. David Perkins was still unavailable through suspension while Kem Izzet, the club's longest serving player since the departure of Karl Duguid to Plymouth, wore the captain's armband for only the second time in his career.

The U's new ground is sumptuous. Still close enough to the players to be able to give some much needed encouragement or abuse as the case may be. Sadly, even in these early stages of the season, the latter were too keen to get on to the players back as patience began to wear thin.

Perhaps disappointingly United's large screen TV was not in service which meant that I was unable to baptise the Cuckoo Clock corner in my reports.....oh, I just did.

Huddersfield had the experienced Chris Lucketti and Andy Booth in their starting line-up with former Ipswich Town winger Garry Roberts on the right-hand side. Former Evertonian Danny Cadamarteri was Booth's partner up front.

The opening half was cagey with neither side really prepared to take defensive chances to open the scoring. Cadamateri's header across goal allowed Andy Holdsworth to blaze a volley over the bar from fifteen yards. Platt's close-range header was blocked by a defender, but the U's giant striker was quick to the loose ball only to fire goalwards only to see Glennon pat the ball behind for a corner.

A poor drop kick from Gerken presented Roberts with a chance for the spectacular from the half-way line but the ex-Farmer who was a substitute in United' s last ever win at Layer Road, fired well wide.

Booth dipping volley was just over before United's best move of the game saw John White's marauding run and combination with Gillespie end at the edge of the box as he was poised to shot in the hope of his first ever U's goal. Goodwin was booked for a foul on Izzet before Platt should really have done with Jackson's corner after stealing a few yards on his man at the near post.

After Wordsworth was fouled right on the edge of the penalty area, the Huddersfield fans behind the goal were relieved to see Yeates' sublime free-kick just clip the top of the crossbar with Glennon helpless.

That was it until halftime - though Lockwood made it in to the referee's notebook for an off-the-ball foul - but United fans were generally pleased with the opening forty-five minutes. The defence of White, Reid, Heath, and Lockwood looked comfortable, and more importantly after the first day horror show at Hartlepool, they hadn’t conceded a goal.

Neither side made a change at the back - indeed, Stan Ternant didn't make a change to his starting eleven throughout the ninety minutes - but United did open well as they looked to grab the first ever goal at The Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The Terriers were, in my opinion at least, lucky to still have eleven men on the field after a really poor foul by Cadamarteri. The former Everton striker was high and really late in the challenge on John White and on another day could really have seen red rather than yellow.

Then came Huddersfield's best and possibly most controversial moments. As the ball came in to the U's penalty area, defenders used everything to attempt to block Town for opening the scoring. Terrier fans behind the goal were convinced that Heath had used his hands to prevent a clear strike of goal but thankfully, neither referee nor Assistant Referee saw nothing amiss.

Gillespie and Platt combined inside the U's box but the latter U's striker was always stretching as he went to shot and inevitably, the ball went up and over the Town crossbar. Jackson's shot from distance was much lower - indeed, it never left the ground - but Glennon was never seriously troubled by the shot from last season's Player of the Season.

Booth looked as though he was ready to apply the final finish at the far post but he clearly bundled Heath to the ground and the referee awarded a free kick to the U's. The veteran striker should have done much better minutes later though when he received the ball with his back to goal just outside the six yard box. Thankfully, for the U's though, his toe-poked effort was straight at Gerken and far more comfortable than it should ever have been.

And so the first U's game at WCHS finished goalless - a fair reflection on the afternoon's entertainment. There's always a lot of pressure on a home side when a new stadium is opened because of the occasion and the U's stood up to that well. The defence looks far more solid than last season but it will be the lack of penetration in attack that will most concern Geraint Williams.

Shot of the Match: Booth's dipping volley might have concerned Gerken had the shot come from just a few yards back.

Save of the Match: Neither goalkeeper had much to do on a sunny August afternoon but Glennon did pat Platt's first half shot behind for a corner.

Moan of the Match: How can people really start complaining about the team this early on? It will take maybe a dozen games before we really start to see this U's side start to play decent football so patience is needed by players and fans alike. Let's remember, that Huddersfield have never been an easy side to beat.

Man of the Match: There wasn't really a stand-out candidate for me. The defence looked fairly solid, while Yeates looks impressive but rarely finds and decisive pass. Wordsworth settled in well while Gillespie looked just a little off the pace - perhaps his recent injury meant that he wasn't fully fit. Izzet and Jackson battled manfully in midfield while Platt got little change out of the experience Chris Lucketti. So on reflection, my MOTM goes to a home debutant in Matt Lockwood. Solid if not spectacular more often than note he was in the right place at the right time and also found time to supplement the attack.

Photo: Action Images

Colchester United Polls