An early strike from lethal goalscorer Sam Parkin earned Swindon Town a gritty win at Colchester United.
Parkin stooped to head home David Duke's cross from the left after only seven minutes to register his fourth goal of the season.
It was just rewards for a bright start by the Wiltshire visitors, although they rode their luck as Colchester searched for an equaliser during a frantic second half.
Colchester handed a debut to their new signing Richard Garcia who moved from West Ham on a permanent contract just 24 hours earlier.
Australian under-23 international Garcia, who was actually celebrating his 23rd birthday, was as close as any to conjuring up an equaliser for his new club.
One such moment arrived after 56 minutes when Garcia rounded off a strong run with a deep cross that deceived keeper Rhys Evans. The ball dropped into the six-yard box but Craig Fagan arrived just too late to intervene.
Colchester had sold their star striker Wayne Andrews to Crystal Palace in midweek and they certainly missed his electric pace upfront.
The hosts hurled long throws and delivered countless crosses into the box but more often then not those loose balls didn't fall kindly.
United stepped up the pressure in the second half but there passing often let them down and it was Swindon who came closest to the goal.
This was Colchester's first home defeat of the season following four straight successes at Layer Road.
