Colchester United suffered their first opening-day defeat for nine years after falling to a 3-1 loss in their League Two curtain-raiser at Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

The U's experienced a first day of the season to forget after slumping to a hugely disappointing result, in front of 329 U's fans at the Wham Stadium.

Goals from Kayden Jackson and Billy Kee gave Stanley a 2-0 lead at half-time, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb.

Omar Beckles added a third just after the hour mark, before substitute Sammie Szmodics grabbed a late consolation for the U's.

Colchester who suffered their first opening-day defeat since losing 4-2 at Hartlepool United, on the first day of the 2008-09 campaign.

U’s head coach John McGreal handed debuts to new boys Mikael Mandron and Ryan Jackson at Accrington.

In total, there were five players in the U’s starting line-up that began their final game of last season against Yeovil Town – Sam Walker, Tom Eastman, Tom Lapslie, Sean Murray and Drey Wright - Lapslie skippered the U’s.

Frankie Kent was passed fit to play following his recent knee injury but Kurtis Guthrie, Doug Loft, Brennan Dickenson and Luke Prosser all missed out.

Alex Wynter was also missing after leaving the U’s by mutual consent the day before the game and subsequently joined Maidstone United.

Colchester debutant Ryan Jackson almost gave his a second-minute lead when his effort was saved by the legs of keeper Aaron Chapman, following Tom Lapslie’s defence-splitting pass.

But the U’s fell behind in the ninth minute when Kayden Jackson finished low past Sam Walker after Liam Nolan had played a defence-splitting pass into his path.

It was almost 2-0 soon after when Walker saved Ben Richards-Everton’s header low down from Sean McConville’s free-kick into the box.

Colchester should really have pulled a goal back in the 16th minute when Craig Slater side-footed wastefully wide from the edge of area after fine work by Jackson had seen him nutmeg Beckles and cross into the area.

But the U’s fell further behind 11 minutes before half-time.

After McConville had cut out Slater’s pass on the edge of the U’s area and crossed, the ball was deflected into the path of Kee, who slammed home.

The U’s struggled to deal with Accrington’s directness and rapid attacking play at times, with the hosts finding plenty of room in the visitors’ half.

Colchester were forced into an early substitution before half-time when Tom Eastman limped off and was replaced by Cole Kpekawa.

And they made a double change at the break, with Lewis Kinsella and Szmodics on for Slater and Denny Johnstone as the U’s went in search of a route back into the game.

They started the second half well and almost found a way back into the contest two minutes after the break when Szmodics side-footed a good chance wide, after Wright had picked him out.

But Colchester fell further behind just after the hour when Beckles had time to turn and fire in from close range, after Nolan had helped on McConville's corner in the area.

Szmodics pulled a goal back for Colchester with eight minutes remaining when he slammed in at the far post after Mandron's shot had deflected into his path but it was too little, too late for the U's.