Colchester United’s senior pre-season campaign began in ominous fashion tonight, when new signing Craig Eastmond was stretchered off with an ankle injury.

Midfielder Eastmond, snapped up on a two-year contract from Arsenal earlier in the summer, was felled by a robust challenge from Heybridge Swifts’ Ryan Doyle during the first half at Scraley Road.

It was a challenge that angered U’s manager Joe Dunne, and resulted in playmaker Eastmond being stretchered off.

And it certainly took the edge of the U’s 2-1 victory.

Ironically, Dunne had only yesterday been mentioning his own pre-season injury nightmare, during a press conference, when he seriously damaged an ankle during a first friendly game of the season at non-league Cornard in the 1990s.

Meanwhile, another of the U’s summer signings, Sanchez Watt, who had also signed on a two-year deal from Arsenal, did not feature tonight.

Dunne wants to ease winger Watt back into competitive action, following his serious hamstring injury and subsequent operation last season.

Heybridge took the lead via Ben Newson in the 23rd minute. It was a lead they held until John-Joe O’Toole grabbed a smartly-taken equaliser just before the hour mark.

Drey Wright netted a 72nd minute winner as the two Wrights combined. David Wright was the creator and Drey Wright provided the finish.

U’s starting XI’s

First-half: Cousins, Kent, Eastman, Wilson, O’Donoghue, Izzet, Bean, Eastmond, Massey, Sears, Iberhe.

Second-half: Phillips, David Wright, Okuonghae, Gilbey, Duguid, Bond, O’Toole, Cook, Drey Wright, Olufemi, Morrison.