Teenage goalkeeper Andy Walker was to step back into the limelight last night as Colchester United travelled to Crystal Palace looking to dump the First Division club out of the Worthington Cup.

The match also marked a big occasion for 16-year-old first-year trainee Glenn Williamson who was on the subs' bench at Selhurst Park as Walker's deputy.

U's boss Mick Wadsworth said before the game: "Glenn's a goalkeeper, a specialist who can catch the ball. He will be better in goal than any outfield player in the event of anything untoward happening to Walker.

"The match will be a great experience for both lads and I have every confidence in them."

Walker, a second-year trainee, got his second senior chance of the season in last night's first round, second leg tie because regular first teamer Simon Brown is serving a one-match ban following his third-minute sending-off in the first leg at Layer Road two weeks ago.

Walker, who made his Football League debut for the U's at Blackpool in the final game of last season, said yesterday: "The manager has given me my big chance and has shown a lot of confidence in me. I'd love to repay him by keeping a clean sheet tonight.

"There's no pressure on me to play well - I've just got to go out tonight and back myself."

Striker Jamie Moralee, who has yet to play this season, was to start on the bench.

U's boss Wadsworth is stamping down on indiscipline within the club. His action follows the sending-off of central defender Sagi Burton at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Burton's dismissal was the third for a U's player in five senior or reserve team games this season and it stretched the club's poor disciplinary record to three red and 14 yellow cards.

Wadsworth said: "I have revised an already strict club code. I will not accept bookings for dissent from my players or bookings for off-the-ball incidents. I will be cracking down hard on anyone who falls foul of the guidelines."

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