TOM Smith has become the first Colchester United goalkeeper in more than than two decades to keep a clean sheet in his first three league games for the club in the same season.

And the Arsenal loanee now has another milestone in his sights - currently held by his former boss Andy Woodman.

Bromley boss Woodman, who Smith played under during his loan spell at the National League side in the first half of this season, was the last U's shot-stopper to keep consecutive league clean sheets in his first four games for the club while on loan from Brentford.

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Woodman, who also worked with Smith during his time as goalkeeper coach at Arsenal, helped Colchester achieve the feat in the 2000-01 campaign, keeping shut-outs against Reading, Wycombe, Notts County and Luton Town in division two.

Gazette:

Smith, who made his professional debut for Colchester against Crewe Alexandra on Easter Monday, will be hoping to help the U's equal that achievement when they host Sutton United, this weekend.

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Meanwhile, Smith says U's goalkeeper coach Graham Stack has been driving him and the rest of the club's keepers to push themselves to their limits.

Stack linked up with Colchester at the beginning of last month, following Ben Garner's appoointed as head coach at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Gazette: Graham Stack

The 41-year-old has been a keeper coach at the likes of Cardiff City and Watford, having enjoyed a long and successful playing career representing the likes of Reading, Hibs and Barnet after starting out at Arsenal.

Smith said: “Graham Stack knows a few of my ex-goalie coaches quite well.

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“He’s been driving every day for me and Kieran to get better and push us to our limits.

“He grew up at Arsenal, the same as me.

“I met some of the coaches back at Arsenal a few weeks ago.

“They were telling me some stories about him, which I won’t say now but they’re good!"