WHEN Geraint Williams and Nigel Adkins shared their postmatch drink yesterday you could imagine that these two friends, who are currently studying together on a league managers’ course, would have plenty to talk about. Top of their conversation would be how two unfashionable clubs, with relatively little money to spend, manage to compete at such a high level. Where Colchester United were the prototype for success last season, Scunthorpe United are on their way to emulating their achievements.

Not surprisingly, given their individual financial constraints, neither of these two teams have particularly sumptuous-sized squads. So when injuries occur – four of the changes to the two respective starting lineups were because of players receiving treatment over the past week alone – they can be incredibly troublesome. From a Scunthorpe perspective, the absence of leading goal scorer Martin Paterson was a shock given that the knee injury that ruled him out had not been mentioned in the build-up to this match. With inspirational captain and joint assistant manager Andy Crosby also unavailable, having not recovered properly in time from a thigh injury, the visitors were missing two of their more influential players.

Colchester, too, had problems in terms of selection, with their talisman Teddy Sheringham sitting in the stands resting his hamstrings, while goalkeeper Aidan Davison was out after suffering a groin injury in their previous match. In came Dean Gerken and the initial signs did not look necessarily promising as, on 20 minutes, he flapped at a teasing right-wing cross by Jack Cork, which threatened to creep under his crossbar.

He quickly made amends, brilliantly tipping the subsequent follow-up, struck violently by Kevan Hurst, over the goal for a corner.

Sometimes, though, as a goalkeeper there is little you can do when faced with a moment of brilliance. Such an instant happened with four minutes remaining in the first half. Paul Hayes received the ball 12 yards from the goal and, showing touches of Gascoigne-esque subtlety, lifted the ball over the lunging challenge of Adam Virgo, before firing a volley past Gerken. A magnificent finish.

Colchester, incensed after a penalty appeal was denied in the first half pressed forward but Kevin Lisbie spurned the opportunities that came his way.

Gerken, in comparison, was by far the busier, producing two excellent saves in quick succession, the first from Matt Sparrow with his left boot, the second punching clear a strike from Cleveland Taylor.

Star man: Kevan Hurst (Scunthorpe)

Player ratings. Colchester: Gerken 7, Duguid 6, Baldwin 6, Virgo 6, Elokobi 6, Yeates 7, Jackson 6, Izzet 6, McLeod 6 (Guy 58, 5), Lisbie 5, Platt 6

Scunthorpe: Murphy 7, Cork 5, Byrne 6, Butler 6, Youga 7, Taylor 6 (Williams 83), Goodwin 6, Sparrow 6, Hurst 7, Hayes 7, Forte 7