Colchester United grabbed their first win of the season with an accomplished and impressive display against a disappointing Preston side.

Still smarting from being denied three points against Barnsley a week ago, the U's put in a near perfect away display for only their third ever win at Deepdale.

The U's scored two goals of real quality as they took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and the season is already shaping up quite nicely for Geraint Williams' men.

Preston, already lacking in confidence, after a tough start to the season, had no answer to the U's organisation and determination and they remain goalless three games into the season.

The U's made two changes to the starting eleven. Aidan Davison came in for the suspended Dean Gerken, whilst John White was promoted to the team to take the injured Kevin McLeod's place.

The visitors started brightly, although they had a nervous moment on four minutes when it looked like Agyemang might just sneak in, only for Baldwin to snuff out the loose ball.

Baldwin's defensive partner White did well not long afterwards as Pugh bore down on a deep cross to the far post, helping it behind for a corner.

The U's would want to keep it tight early on but were showing occasional forays forward of their own, as Duguid was cleverly making runs into the channels down either flank.

The visitors then had a chance on fourteen minutes as Sheringham sent in Izzet who had got beyond the front two, but he couldn't find space to shoot.

He laid it back to Sheringham, who in turn passed it to Lisbie, but he could only help his effort well over the crossbar.

Davison was coming in for some treatment - in the referees eyes at least - and Carroll was given a talking to on the twenty minute mark for one clash with the U's goalkeeper.

There was a worrying moment for the U's on 23 minutes though as, under pressure from Agyemang, Connolly headed the ball back to Davison.

The U's goalie was closer than his team-mate expected and a quick save was required to help it around the post.

They then had a half shout at goal themselves, as Izzet escaped down the left on 24 minutes, laying the ball into Sheringham.

The experienced striker could have shot first time on his left foot, but instead opted to pass to Lisbie, who was offside.

Lisbie returned the favour two minutes later, laying the ball to Sheringham on the edge of the box and his attempted left foot chip drifted just wide of the goal.

At the other end, Baldwin lost the flight of the ball as a long pass came over his shoulder.

Agyemang burst in on goal and, just on the edge of the box, Baldwin caught his man. All credit to the Preston forward, though, as he stayed on his feet in pursuit of the ball, but Davison got there first.

Davison was on hand to save the ball on 28 minutes as well. It came from his own minor error though, as he dropped a cross, only to fall at Sedgwick's feet as he went to shoot.

Jackson became the first player to go in the book for a foul on Carter and Davison had another nervous moment as he dropped the save from the free kick, before collecting with Mawene bearing down.

The U's were playing a fairly positive game, though. When defending the home attacks, they were holding a high line, whilst Preston were happy to sit on the edge of their own box when the U's were in possession.

The home team were finishing the half relatively strongly, though, and Baldwin was putting in an excellent display at the heart of the back four.

White had enjoyed a steady, no nonsense first half but was double teamed at the end of the first half as Preston got in down their left, but the cross was headed over.

The U's repeated the Preston break down their own left flank three minutes before half time.

Again, as a week ago at Barnsley, it was Elokobi breaking down the left and he sent over a superb cross to the far post.

It found Lisbie rising like a salmon up against Lisbie and he planted a low header into the bottom corner beyond the despairing dive of Henderson.

Then, from a corner not long afterwards, Elokobi was in space but the ball came at him just too low and his header was not a clean one, allowing the home keeper to collect.

Davison then had to collect early in the second half as a Carroll flick on sent in Agyemang and the U's keeper was quick off his line to snap the ball off the striker's boot.

The home team were expected to come out sharply after the break and, whilst there was a little more impetus in their play, time and again the final ball was not of the desired quality from their fans' point of view.

The U's attacking play had a bit more quality to it and Sheringham sent Yeates away down the left, where he in turn fed Lisbie.

His measured cross was just beyond Sheringham - who went to ground under a challenge from Alexander - and Duguid, who was disappointed to see the ball skip past him for a corner.

At the other end, Sedgwick got in down the right as he collected a loose ball from the U's defence and it looked like Carroll was going to get a free header in on goal, but White had tracked the runner into the box and the striker glanced his effort wide.

The home team were somewhat hurried in their attacks as they went forward, but they were certainly seeing more of the ball in the final third.

Boss Simpson made his first change just before the hour mark, introducing Whaley for Pugh down the left.

The substitute had barely touched the ball, though, when the U's were given a penalty after a handball in the area from a Colchester free kick.

Sheringham stepped up to the spot and drilled the ball perfectly past Henderson to double the U's lead after what was the best spell of the game for Preston.

It took the momentum out of the home team's play, who were seeking for a moment of quality to make their way back into the game.

They thought they might have it when Whaley got in down the left and cut inside White before striking a shot.

It looked like it might be heading for the far corner of the goal, but Omerod dived in to try and divert it - but only managed to push it over the bar.

That miss proved to be more crucial when the U's further extended their lead 28 minutes into the second half.

Duguid had surged forwards towards the home area and was felled 25 yards out. Yeates stepped up to curl home a perfect free kick into the top corner beyond Henderson.

That goal saw a number of disgruntled home fans heading for the exits, as their team struggled to make an impression in the final third at the right end of the table.

The home team's afternoon was summed up ten minutes before the end when Omerod got into the area, but slipped just at the crucial moment, spurning the opportunity.

Izzet blocked one shot at the edge of the box and before Carter drove over, but the U's were not resting on their laurels as they continued to push forwards themselves.

The U's number ten was instrumental in playing a part in preserving the clean sheet in the latter part of the game, as the U's defended their clean sheets with their lives as the game came to a close.

There was nearly time for the U's to add a fourth though as Yeates broke on a fifty yard run and won a corner - and Sheringham nearly scored with an intelligent flick at the near post that came back off the woodwork.

It would have been the icing on a very tasty cake, but the visitors deserved the three points with a superb display.