A weakened Town U18 side lost 2-0 to Arsenal at a bitterly cold Playford Road on Saturday morning.

Ronan Murray, David Cawley (both Republic of Ireland U18s) and Connor Wickham (England U16s) were all away on international duty, whilst midfielder Billy Clark is still suffering from a knee injury picked up early in the season.

The Gunners came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half but Lewis Ward, who had a spell on Arsenal's books as a schoolboy, made some impressive saves to keep the scores level at half-time.

Lone striker Reggie Lambe forced the Gunners keeper into a good low save midway through the second half but visitors' striker Rhys Murphy netted on 76 and 82 to secure the three points for Arsenal.

With former Colchester boss Geraint Williams an interested spectator, Paul Watson and Jack Ainsley looked a solid centre-back pairing, but with a number of players playing out of position it was always going to be a tough ask for Town to get anything from the game.

Town's U16s lost 6-0 to their Arsenal counterparts after being 5-0 down at half-time.

U18s: Ward, Meekings, Dunbar, Eastman (Reason 60), Watson, Ainsley, Griffiths (Robinson 35), Hyam (c), Lambe, Upson and Clemo.

Photo: Action Images

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