New signing Lloyd Doyley played 90 minutes at centre-back as Colchester United under-23s played out a 0-0 draw with their Bolton Wanderers at Florence Park.

Doyley, who signed for the U’s on a free transfer last week, played his first game in a U’s shirt in the Professional Development League Two fixture.

Fellow defender Frankie Kent also played for 90 minutes in the draw, as he continues his comeback from tendonitis.

Colchester controlled the early stages and Femi Akinwande twice went close.

But Bolton were the better side for the remainder of the first half, with Alex Honeyball’s header hitting the top of the bar and going over from a corner.

Colchester keeper James Bransgrove denied Honeyball with a superb save after that and Bolton hit the woodwork from the resultant corner, as they pressed for an opener.

The visitors went in at the break on top but Colchester had a good chance in the opening stages of the second half, with Kent heading wide from Tariq Issa’s corner.

The U’s went close again soon after when Brendan Ocran’s shot was spilled by Bolton keeper Jake Turner, only for Akinwande to drill his rebound straight at the keeper.

The lively Decarrey Sherriff had an effort saved but Bolton still threatened at the other end, with the U’s grateful to the woodwork after a header rebounded to safety.

Bransgrove made two comfortable saves in the closing stages, as the spoils were shared.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Bransgrove, Ocran, Doyley, Kent, O’Donoghue, Regis, Diaz Wright, Brown, Akinwande, Issa, Sheriff. Substitutes: Edge, Jones, Williams, Peter, Harrison.