John Beck, one of the most colourful characters in the lower divisions of the Football League, will be back at Layer Road tomorrow (Saturday).

Brought in near the tail end of last season to bolster Cambridge United's flagging Division Two fortunes, the love him or hate him Abbey Stadium team boss is on the warpath again and is already fighting a similar battle this year.

Many of his players may have changed, but the struggle for survival goes on.

Only 13 games have gone, but Cambridge - currently perilously poised fifth from bottom - are already six points adrift of the U's, who although ocuppying 11th spot are only six points away from the top. Find out more about Colchester United FC Both clubs go into Saturday's match on the back of morale boosting, midweek LDV Vans Trophy wins.

The U's saw off Swindon Town by a lone Kemal Izzet goal, while Cambridge squeezed out a "Golden Goal" 2-1 victory over lowly Exeter City deep in the west country thanks to a 104th minute goal from French striker Armond One.

Beck's men also boosted their League position with a handsome 3-1 home win over bottom club Bury last Saturday with another goal from One, plus others from Tom Youngs and Alex Revell.

One player who won't need any introduction is former Lincoln City, Hull and York City striker Colin Alcide, who was once a £50,000 transfer target of the U's during Steve Wignall's reign as Layer Road manager.

Former U's central defender David Greene, who moved on to Cardiff City and later to Cambridge was forced to quit League football at the end of last season because of a troublesome knee injury.

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