This handsome three-goal win wasn't just a great result for Colchester United - it was another chapter of history in the making.

Never before have the U's recorded a League or cup triumph against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road since the clubs first met in combat 46 years ago.

The third and final goal from 72nd minute substitute Thomas Pinault was the ambitious French teenager's first ever in English League football.

Barry Conlon and David Gregory netted the other two.

Classy on-loan keeper Andy Woodman now stands just 90 minutes away from equalling Carl Emberson's impressive 1997-98 record of five consecutive clean sheets in Football League matches - Mansfield (2-0), Exeter (1-0), Shrewsbury (2-0), Peterborough (1-0), Rochdale (0-0) - between February 13 and March 3.

Woody stands just four games away from equalling Scott Barrett's all-time record eight consecutive shut-outs since the U's became a professional club in 1937.

This was set in the 1991-92 GM Vauxhall Conference championship winning season - Gateshead (2-0), Northwich (1-0), Bath (0-0), Kidderminster (3-0), Slough (4-0), Telford (2-0), Merthyr (2-0) and Boston (4-0) - between March 7 and April 22.

It doesn't end there - for this win was the U's biggest margin of victory away from home since the 5-2 Division Three hammering of old rivals Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on September 18, 1993 when Mark Kinsella, Steve McGavin, Roy McDonough, Martin Grainger and Steve Brown were the scorers.

But as good as the win is, don't run away with the idea that the U's gave Luton a real trouncing.

Sure they were clinical in their finishing, very positive and entertaining in their build-up play and defended like trojans.

But the Hatters were a far better team than their lowly second-from-bottom Division Two position would have you believe.

They carried the game to the U's for long periods, looked very dangerous at times - especially striker Liam George and Finnish international wingback Petri Helin - but in Woodman, Fitzgerald, Skelton and company they found a keeper and a visiting defence who were out of this world on the day.

The lively George, in fact, should have opened the scoring only 19 minutes into the game.

But with only Woodman to beat he lost his balance, miscued his shot badly and allowed the on-rushing keeper to make a simple save.

Gavin Johnson, restored to U's first team action after badly gashing an ankle, had already tested unpredictable home keeper Nathan Abbey with a sizzling long range free-kick.

Woodman then knocked away a Helin shot with his legs in what looked like a certain goal before the impressive Conlon finally broke the deadlock 28 minutes into the game.

The tireless target man collected a pass deep inside Luton territory and, with Duguid making a superb decoy run on his left, the big Irishman picked his time and his spot before thumping a wicked left-foot drive past the despairing Abbey's dive into the bottom corner of the net.

Spurred on by silky skilled midfield general Jason Dozzell and the industrious David Gregory, the U's continued to torment the home side for the remainder of the first half.

This was despite losing lion-hearted full-back Joe Dunne, who was stretchered off after 38 minutes with a badly gashed face that needed about 40 stitches.

With the very adaptable Skelton now shining in Dunne's place and club captain Simon Clark happily back in action after a three-match lay-off, the U's enjoyed a perfect second half start by scoring again.

Just three minutes had gone when Gregory glanced a brilliant header just inside the far post from an inch perfect Mick Stockwell cross after Duguid had set up the goal with a great long ball out of defence.

Matthew Taylor then smashed a fierce drive against the inside of a post and Clark headed another effort off the line as the Hatters really started to call the tune.

Woodman excelled again with another super save to deny home skipper Paul McLaren before Pinault, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, sealed the U's 3-0 victory in the 76th minute with a sizzling first time shot from just inside the area following great work by fellow substitute Steve McGavin.

Only Abbey's legs prevented McGavin from adding a fourth goal, while Woodman had the final say with another great save to halt George on the stroke of full-time.

David Gregory is all smiles after scoring his second goal of the season at Luton

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