Rodrigo Vilca and Jake Turner both made their debuts for their respective loan clubs in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night.
Vilca started for Doncaster Rovers, where he will spend the entirety of the current campaign, in their game against Rotherham United.
But it was a difficult evening for the Peruvian playmaker, with three early goals setting the Millers on their way to what became an emphatic win at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Vilca was withdrawn just after the hour with the score at 4-0 to Rotherham, with two more goals following his substitution making it 6-0.
The 22-year-old will now be hoping to make his League One bow when Donny travel to Kell Watts’ Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
Goalkeeper Turner, meanwhile, started between the sticks for Colchester in their game against Gillingham.
And the former Bolton stopper looked to be about to record a clean sheet, until Rob McKenzie’s last-gasp winner gave the Gills the points in added time.
Turner’s side will now travel to Barrow for a League Two fixture on Friday night.