Troisdorf FC 0 Colchester United 3COLCHESTER United warmed up for tomorrow's glamorous pre-season friendly against Aston Villa, by posting a comfortable 3-0 victory over German side Troisdorf FC.

Carl Marston

Troisdorf FC 0 Colchester United 3

COLCHESTER United warmed up for tomorrow's glamorous pre-season friendly against Aston Villa, by posting a comfortable 3-0 victory over German side Troisdorf FC.

Paul Lambert's men put the finishing touches to a tough week in training, at their base at Sportschule Hennef in Germany, with a convincing win over low-key opposition.

Ashley Vincent, who signed for the U's on a permanent basis this summer, following a loan move from Cheltenham last season, broke the deadlock with a crisp finish from Marc Tierney's cross inside the first minute.

Midfielder David Fox, another of the summer signings, added a second goal on 15 minutes. Former Blackpool stalwart Fox drove home a left-footed shot.

The third goal did not arrive until the 83rd minute. Scott Vernon, who turned down a chance to join Carlisle United earlier this month, was on target.

The U's are now preparing for tomorrow's visit of Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa side. Kick-off at the Community Stadium is 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, U's boss Lambert is hoping to conclude his transfer dealings, at least in terms of signing new recruits, by securing the services of the strike-force pairing of Richard Offiong and Joel Thomas from Scottish Premier League club Hamilton Academical this week.

It is believed that a fee has been agreed with the Accies, with United preparing to pay �225,000 for the two front-runners.

Last weekend, Lambert admitted that he had tried, and failed, to sign seven different strikers during the close-season, including Shrewsbury Town's Grant Holt, who was the leading marksman in League Two last term.

But the Scotsman did reveal to the EADT that he was hoping to bring in two strikers, one with experience, and the other a younger one.

Ex-Newcastle United trainee Offiong is a 25-year-old marksman who has scored an impressive 43 goals in 94 starts for the Accies. His previous first team experience has been on loan with Darlington, Motherwell and York City, and abroad in Turkey, South Korea and Belgium. He was at Doncaster Rovers before his switch to Hamilton.

Thomas, meanwhile, is a younger more inexperienced front-man. The 22-year-old Frenchman, who stands at 6ft 2ins, signed for the Accies a year ago but scored just once in 28 senior appearances (18 as asubstitute) last term.