COLCHESTER United completed their pre-season games on Saturday afternoon as they saw off Championship side Watford 1-0.

A first half Kayode Odejayi goal was just rewards for a hugely positive first half display before the U’s went on to show their resilience and intelligence in a second half display to defeat the Hornets.

The U’s end pre-season without defeat and have conceded just one goal in their warm-up matches.

Boss John Ward will be pleased with what he has seen during those games ahead of their League One trip to Preston next Saturday.

On Saturday, it was a familiar face, Mark Yeates who came close within the first minute as he glanced his header wide of the Colchester goal after Forsyth’s cross found the former U’s man, an early let off for United.

The U’s looked comfortable in possession, knocking it around nicely in the final third.

And, just as the visitors were beginning to grow into the game more, stringing a few passes of their own together, it was the U’s who took the lead after Wordsworth’s deflected cross was met by Odejayi at the near post who tucked the ball past Scott Loach in the Watford goal on 24 minutes.

It would prove to be the decisive moment in a game which Colchester deserved to win, despite a few second-half scares.

- Buy tomorrow’s paper for a full report and pictures.