IT was a day of firsts and lasts; beginnings and endings. And brilliant finishing.

New beginnings for Graham Alexander as he made his debut, ironically against the side he had ended his nine-year Preston North End career against just seven days before.

For Alexander also, despite a career spanning over 17 years, it was the first time he had been on the winning side in a league game on Colchester territory.

Added to that, there was a first league start for Alan Mahon this season, and his first goal in exactly 11 months - a special effort - set Burnley on their way to their first away win of the season on the Clarets' last visit (FA Cup draws permitting) to Layer Road, before Colchester United take up new residence at Cuckoo Farm next summer.

"We're very thankful that we've come here, got the result, got the three points and we won't have to come here again for the simple reason we know how tough it is," said delighted Burnley boss Steve Cotterill, who conceded that his players had arrived in a very different frame of mind compared to their last visit.

That time, back in February, the Clarets were 14 games into a frustrating 18-game run without a Championship win. Cotterill admitted his players had set their sights no higher than a point; a valuable one, considering the fortress Geraint Williams was building on home soil in their first season after promotion.

But it was a very different, more welcome, scenario this time around for Burnley.

Previously, Cotterill's small squad suffered a double blow with injuries to Wayne Thomas and Chris McCann.

Although the squad has not increased vastly in size since then, there is greater versatility, and the Burnley boss now has the option to rotate and select a side to suit the occasion.

Few were surprised to see Alexander thrust straight into the starting line-up, although finding him in midfield may have come as a shock to some, despite the Burnley boss firing a pre-match hint to that effect after securing the former Luton defender's signature on Thursday.

Arguably the most unexpected inclusion, though, was Mahon.

Cotterill admitted that the player himself was taken aback.

"I think he was quite surprised when we named the team because I don't think he expected to be in the starting line-up," said the Clarets boss, who revealed that the Dubliner's call-up was reward for his impact against Oldham Athletic in the Carling Cup win, followed by an influential performance for the reserves just 24 hours later.

And Mahon repaid his manager in emphatic fashion.

The architect of Burnley's second goal against Oldham last week became the man to put Colchester on the back foot early, making sure the Clarets weren't guilty of wasting their chances as they had been at Scunthorpe a fortnight before, as he punished a poor clearance from Michael Duff's cross with a well-struck volley.

The former Sporting Lisbon and Wigan Athletic midfielder steadied himself after Matt Connolly's header away dropped towards his left foot, and Mahon struck a sweet left volley through a sea of bodies and into the bottom right corner, giving the diving Dean Gerken no chance.

Mahon peeled away in delight and sprinted towards the dugout, where he conducted a hand movement celebration with substitute Ade Akinbiyi that had been conjured on the training ground.

Gray's finish to make it 2-0, and the delivery which led to it, were also impressive.

Blake held the ball up, as he had done for Duff in the build-up to Mahon's goal, and Wade Elliott swept over the perfect delivery for an unmarked Gray to stab beyond Gerken with a right-foot volley.

A mix-up between Brian Jensen and Clarke Carlisle almost handed Teddy Sheringham an opening but Jensen managed to claw the ball away from the veteran striker. Burnley broke and Gray was denied a quick second by the goalkeeper.

It was at that point, after Geraint Williams had seen some decent approach play thwarted by a solid Burnley backline, that the Colchester boss made a change, trading his right back, John White, for left winger Kevin McLeod on his comeback from injury.

It was a harsh decision on White as it was the right wing that the Clarets had raided for both goals, but it proved to be an effective one for Williams as his U's side came to life.

Already 2-0 down, there was really nothing to lose; everything to gain. And they managed that on the stroke of half-time through Kevin Lisbie following George Elokobi's burst down the left after a dubiously awarded free kick was only half cleared.

Lisbie rose above Caldwell to meet Elokobi's centre and knocked it beyond Jensen off the back of his head.

Gray restored the two-goal cushion just after the hour thanks to McCann's persistence and determination in winning the spot kick. The young Irishman had a shot blocked by Elokobi and was tripped by the left back as he went for the rebound.

Gray did a double shuffle to distract Gerken and then sent the keeper the wrong way.

Either side of three Burnley substitutions, John Spicer replacing Alexander, who was suffering with cramp, Akinbiyi coming on for Blake and Jon Harley replacing Mahon, the striker had chances to complete a career-first hat-trick but was denied by a good save as he headed Mahon's cross goalwards, then Gerken was on hand again as Akinbiyi squared for him at close range.

Colchester have scored at least two goals in every league game so far, and that trend continued when Caldwell was unlucky not to head clear Sheringham's right-wing delivery and substitute Adam Virgo, on loan from Celtic, rose at the far post to thump a header beyond Jensen two minutes from time.

But, despite the referee playing SEVEN minutes of stoppage time, instead of the third goal they craved, Burnley secured the three points they deserved.