Carl Marston recalls a Colchester United trip to Luton where two comeback kings helped to secure a 2-1 away win on December 14, 2002.

Steve Whitton’s side often struggled in the third tier, but they occasionally came up trumps with a terrific away result. Such was the case at Kenilworth Road, 15 years ago.

The U’s kept their noses above the relegation trap door, thanks to goals from the returning Karl Duguid and also attacker Dean Morgan, plus a superb performance from defender Scott Fitzgerald, who was also on the comeback trail, after Andrew Fotiadis had swept the Hatters into a 35th minute lead.

Duguid, ‘Mr Colchester United,’ finally back in the side after suffering medial ligament damage at Tranmere in the first week of the campaign, levelled on the stroke of half-time.

The versatile Duguid had been the all-conquering U’s player-of-the-year the previous season, but he finally got this campaign up-and-running with a terrific free-kick, curling his shot beyond the defensive wall and past keeper Mark Ovendale.

“It was a great win. We need to get out of the relegation fight and into the middle of the table,” enthused Duguid. “I didn’t think that I would last for 90 minutes. In the end it was adrenalin that got me through.”

Front-runner Morgan wrapped up all three points with a 58th minute winner, nodding home from close-in after Mick Stockwell had rounded keeper Ovendale.

At the back Fitzgerald, out for five months with a knee injury, was supreme on his long-awaited return to the team.

“I thought we showed great character,” said Fitzgerald.