This explosive, windswept and rain-sodden, Layer Road Division Two clash will be remembered for four very contrasting reasons.

One, it was the first ever goalless draw between old rivals U's and Wycombe in 16 Football League, cup and Conference outings.

Two, because three outstanding saves and brilliant goalkeeping by Wanderers reigning player of the year and former Derby County number one Martin Taylor kept the game scoreless.

Three, for the surprise 70th minute substitution of U's man of the match, major threat and former Wycombe star Steve McGavin with unpredictable young striker Tony Lock.

Four, for the fiery and indisciplined Lock's scandalous and stupid challenge from behind on Wanderers defender Alan Beeton eight minutes later that sparked off an ugly all-in brawl and led to the Colchester player's sending-off - making it one of manager Steve Whitton's worst substitutions to date.

Beeton was going nowhere, out by the touchline, when Lock, in a rush of blood, thundered in a reckless tackle from behind, sending the Wycombe man hurtling into the surrounding wall.

A red mist suddenly descended over the scene seconds later as up to 16 players became embroiled in a brawl, resulting in referee Roger Furnandiz brandishing a red card at Lock and the U's being reduced to ten men for the remaining 12 minutes.

Lock's contribution in the short time he was on the pitch was minimal, but the only surprise surrounding his dismissal was that Furnandiz saw fit to wield just one card.

A few days earlier Norwich City and Blackpool had been hit with a collective fine of £42,000 following a similar ugly incident in a Worthington Cup tie at Carrow Road.

Wycombe themselves had finished with just nine players on the pitch in last season's corresponding clash in which midfielder Michael Simpson and striker Steve Brown were both sent-off.

Colchester went into the latest match minus skipper Simon Clark, Jason Dozzell, Gavin Johnson and Simon Brown - Andy Woodman, Joe Dunne, Chris Keeble and Joe Keith came into the squad - looking for a positive reaction from last week's morale-sapping FA Cup defeat at non-league Yeovil.

Manager Whitton got what he was looking for as the U's carved out the better chances against an injury-hit Wycombe squad including new boy Sam Parkin, on the bench and on loan from Chelsea, plus former U's Canadian international striker Niall Thompson.

Former Millwall captain Scott Fitzgerald skippered the U's for the first time in Clark and Dozzell's absence and with heavy rain sweeping across the ground there was an early let-off for the visitors as the unmarked McGavin screwed a great scoring opportunity wide only seven minutes into the game.

Danger man Jermaine McSporran tested U's on-loan keeper Woodman with an overhead kick, while Keeble, David Gregory and Barry Conlon, making his home debut, all went close to breaking the deadlock before Taylor earned his spurs with the first of his super saves - an acrobatic leap to his left to turn away a 35th minute McGavin thunderbolt that looked a goal all the way.

Karl Duguid sent another tremendous 25-yard angled drive inches over as the U's continued to call the tune, but Wycombe's leading marksman Andy Rammell squandered a great chance to snatch the lead when firing wide from an inch perfect Jermaine McSporran cross.

Wycombe's Taylor was in action again within seven minutes of the second half start, this time turning away and angled Duguid shot.

Six minutes later Taylor was on the spot again to brilliantly tip away a scorching Mick Stockwell rising drive following a good build-up involving Woodman, Conlon and McGavin.

There was a big let-off for the U's on 67 minutes, however, as the Buckinghamshire Chairboys had strong claims for a penalty waved aside as Woodman appeared to bring down Parkin - making his League debut - deep inside the U's area.

The U's keeper had only moments before gone down well to hold a stinging long range Michael Simpson drive.

But there was absolutely no hint at this point that all hell was about to break loose with Lock's 78th minute sending-off.

The U's still coped comfortably even after they were reduced to ten men and Gregory should have sealed victory for them instead of missing a sitter from only seven yards out nine minutes from the end.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.