Kevin Bru and David McGoldrick - from the penalty spot - twice gave the Blues the lead at Colchester but the U’s ran out 3-2 victors in the now-annual friendly at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. For the home side, Alex Gilbey scored twice and Gavin Massey a late, late winner.

Trialists Giles Coke and Larsen Touré started for the Blues with only Cole Skuse not making the trip due to a minor niggle.

Goalmouth action was rare in the opening spell and it wasn’t until the 13th minute that either side threatened, Bru picking up a loose ball midway inside the Colchester half and hitting a 25-yard effort which was too close to U’s keeper Elliot Parish.

Town, again in last season's orange away kit, came close to taking the lead in the 21st minute after a superb interchange of passes on the right. Pitman dummied, Ambrose then played the ball to the striker, who fed former Colchester man Sears, whose shot was blocked by Parish. The loose ball deflected out to Jonny Parr, but the Norwegian shot into the side-netting when he should have opened the scoring.

George Moncur shot wide for the home side, then on 23 skipper Chris Porter battled his way beyond Tommy Smith but the advancing Dean Gerken - also back at his old club - dived at his feet to block.

The U’s threatened again on 29, Moncur hitting a low shot from distance which Gerken could only parry. Porter was first to the rebound but couldn’t find the target as Smith closed down.

Just after the half hour trialist Touré, who had started wide on the right, made way for Dylan Connolly, the Guinean international having made one or two feisty challenges and a couple of strong runs, but had been caught in possession on a number of occasions.

On 36 Pitman looped a header over from a Coke freekick, then four minutes later Drey Wright, son of former Blue Jermaine Wright, shot over from distance.

The Blues took the lead right on the stroke of half-time. Ambrose, who is training with Town as he looks to win a new deal, exchanged passes with Sears on the left, the former Colchester man cut the ball back beyond Pitman but perfectly for Bru, who smashed a right-foot shot past Parish and into the net. The referee’s whistle blew moments after the restart.

Bru’s goal was very much the highlight of an evenly-contested, typical pre-season first half of few chances at either end.

At the start of the second half the Blues brought on Josh Emmanuel, Josh Yorwerth, Ryan Fraser, Teddy Bishop, David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy for skipper Luke Chambers, Smith, Connolly, Bru, Sears and Pitman.

Alex Gilbey struck the first shot of the second half from distance, Gerken getting down to his right and claiming at the second attempt ahead of the on-rushing Porter.

Colchester got back on terms on 55 when Moncur made a strong run through the middle before laying the ball to Gilbey, who beat the advancing Gerken from midway inside the area on the left.

Ambrose hit a low volley not far wide before Myles Kenlock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaced Parr and Ambrose.

The Blues regained the lead from the penalty spot in the 65th minute. Emmanuel’s deep cross from the right was nodded down and across by Murphy to McGoldrick, whose powerful shot was stopped by Alex Wynter’s hand.

Referee Mr T Robinson pointed to the spot and McGoldrick sent Parish the wrong way to claim his second goal of pre-season.

The Blues came close to adding to their lead on 72 when Maitland-Niles threaded in Fraser on the left. The on-loan Bournemouth man crossed to Murphy, who just couldn’t get his header on target.

Bishop shot weakly through to Colchester’s sub keeper Sam Walker, before the game turned around in the final minutes.

Colchester got back on terms when Gilbey picked the ball up not far outside the area and hit a powerful low shot which beat Gerken.

Then, in the final minute of scheduled time, the U’s took the lead for the first time. Sub Dion Sembie-Ferris held off Berra before Jack Curtis whipped over a cross-shot beyond Gerken and Gavin Massey bundled the ball home behind him.

There was no time for the Blues to hit back and the League One side claimed a rare victory over their local rivals.

Until the late goals, the match had appeared to be drifting to a Town win, having somewhat lost its momentum after the traditional pre-season mass of substitutions.

But the U's showed admirable desire in the closing minutes to grab the win and send their fans - who were just outnumbered by the travelling Blues - away happy.

Colchester: Parish (Walker 70), Brindley, Wynter, Eastman (Curtis 80), Vincent-Young, Edwards, Gilbey, Moncur (Kent 80), Wright (Sembie-Ferris 56), Porter, Massey. Subs: Olufemi, Lapslie, Bonne, Holman.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (Emmanuel 46), Berra, Smith (Yorwerth 46), Parr (Kenlock 63), Coke (Tabb 72), Bru (Bishop 46), Touré (Connolly 31 (Fraser 46)), Ambrose (Maitland-Niles 63), Sears (McGoldrick 46), Pitman (Murphy 46). Subs: Crowe, McDonnell, Stewart, Henshall, Benyu. Att: 4,647 (Town: 2,372).

Photo: Action Images

ipswichtillidie added 22:19 - Jul 28 Get ready......... Blub blub blub.... (And breathe..........) blub blub blub
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NSL added 22:19 - Jul 28 Maybe micks goalkeeping headache has just been made slightly easier!
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TractorCam added 22:22 - Jul 28 I know it's only a friendly, but i'm really not confident with our defence. Considering the first half is our usual back 4, we were all over the place. We looked better with Emmanuel at right back 2nd half but still not good enough at the back as the goals will show. On another note thought both trialists played very well whilst they were on the pitch and wouldn't be surprised if either of them got a contract

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shaunkingitfc added 22:23 - Jul 28 Oooo ipswich I love you but frckingell I don't know what to say but that player from hearts what whos linked we're not gonna get him because he will Cost money .... Foursome reason ipswich doesn't spend money ... I want to see are full team out starting 11 plz mick
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ArnieM added 22:25 - Jul 28 ....blub
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bluefeast added 22:25 - Jul 28 9 conceded in 5 pre season games against very weak opposition. NO to trialists .NO to ambrose ,NO to chambers at RB , NO to smith at right side of defence. NO to gerkin. New signings please
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martleshamitfc added 22:29 - Jul 28 Just proves we need Tabb playing! ;)
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martleshamitfc added 22:29 - Jul 28 where was Bart?
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ipswichtillidie added 22:32 - Jul 28 Blubfeast I agree with all your points but it's pre season. Calm down calm down. If you hadn't noticed Micks doing an alright job so let's just wait and see shall we.
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blues1 added 22:32 - Jul 28 Before the inevitable barrage of slagging off that's bound to appear, let's remember this was a preseason friendly. And that there was only 1 senior defender on the pitch when the last 2 goals were scored. What it did show was that the back up defenders are not good enough, tho its unlikely that they'd all be in the team at the same time. We need to sign a rb and lb imo. I thought Coke did well and you're looked decent when he did get the ball which wasn't often. Quite what the point of taking him off so early was, I don't know, unless he was injured. Why mm said he was going to play his 1st team players for longer then did nothing but I'm not sure but guess there was a reason. At least its a preseason match which hopefully mm has learnt from and will act on before the season starts

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jas0999 added 22:33 - Jul 28 I know pre season results aren't overly important. But this is nonetheless a backwards step on last season. The biggest concern is whether the club actually intend to spend the Mings money, plus the wages saved on the thirteen players leaving since last season. Now, I don't expect thirteen new signings, but surely it's not unreasonable to expect the club to reinvest. We have so far signed just one permanent player, an inexperienced youngster and two loans. Not good enough. We have shipped goals this pre season. We lack numbers, whilst again the keepers look average. We started okay in midfield, but maybe that attack minded creative spark is still missing. We have fewer players than last season. For Mick to suggest inexperienced youngsters will act as back up or worse still Tabb at left back is worrying. I think the club need to clarify the spending policy once and for all. Will the Mings money, increased revenue from season ticket sales and wages saved be reinvested? Not just loans and frees. Looks unlikely. Looks like with the trialists we are shopping at the lowest end of the market again. After selling Mings I was expecting better. I simply can't see how 17 senior players, inc goal keepers is enough to challenge for promotion. Just eleven days to go before we play an ambitious Brentford side. I'm not sure we are ready.

13

itsonlyme added 22:33 - Jul 28 Look at it another way. We won't be making 10 or 11 substitutions each game when the serious stuff starts. Hopefully the team on Saturday will play most of the game with not too many subs.
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carsey added 22:35 - Jul 28 Was disappointed I couldn't go tonight but by the sounds of it I didn't miss much. Sounds like the players took their Q from MM saying earlier that he didn't much like pre-season friendlies as a player or manager and consequently couldn't be arsed to try too hard. If I remember correctly Town were pretty dyer last year at Colchester and the season didn't turn out too badly so maybe things will be alright.

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blues1 added 22:36 - Jul 28 Should read Toure
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NSL added 22:38 - Jul 28 Evans is not spending, i imagine he wants out of the club, although they are hardly going to admit that! It will be, the usual sound bites of "look where spending lots of money has got us before" and "we are not in a rush to spend the money" "we'll reevaluate I'm January" "I don't want a big squad otherwise jay tab will throw his toys out the pram"
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Vancouver_Blue added 22:39 - Jul 28 I thought Didzy scored against Cambridge last week???
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bluefeast added 22:41 - Jul 28 Its all very odd ,i thought pre season was all about preparation ,not giving 24 players a game. Ive been following brentfords pre season ,take a look. We will get smashed i reckon. Remember no berra for that game so chambers in the middle. Our squad is tiny in terms of experience. We have some decent players and some players who should be nowhere near championship football ,especially one with ambitions of being top 6. It is a worry that we have not brought in players who will improve us as a strting 11. RB LB CM plus a goal keeper perhaps. Very strange recruitment policy. Coke is not the answer. We need much more in terms of quality.

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blues1 added 22:41 - Jul 28 Has. The fact is that money is available but mm has said that he's happy with his squad and has decided not to spend any so far. Tho again he has also stated that he hopes to sign 2 or 3 more before the start of the season. As for the point about triallists, most clubs bring in trial lists and play them in friendlies, that's how u find out if they're ne good. Remember, that's how we signed Bru.

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skusesrightpeg added 22:46 - Jul 28 Gerken out gerken out gerken out gerken out, On a more positive note Giles coke looked very very good
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Kirbmeister added 22:47 - Jul 28 It's a pre season friendly - who cares!
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gippeswyk added 22:49 - Jul 28 I agree with everything you say jas0999. I got down marked the other day when I commented on the fact we are doing what we were doing this time last year, picking up lower team's cast-offs, most of whom were past their prime. I am hoping that Mick can pull a rabbit or two out of the hat before the season starts with a couple of shrewd and exciting signings using the Mings money. We dont need to spend 8m and can add real quality in 2 or 3 key areas (goal, rb and creative midfield) for a 2-3m. But time is running out and after some poor results in the pre-season friendlies (losses to Fortuna and Colchester and a draw vs Posh), its looking a bit worrying. Anyone who thinks that getting Didzy fit is all we need to do is wrong. Murphy was the only reason we made the play-offs last year (and Daren Bent doing us a favour missing that penalty), otherwise we would have ended up mid-table, again, with our ugly hoof-ball. Other teams are splashing serious cash to back their serious promotion ambitions. We need to do more and can't just expect MM to work another miracle.

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bluefeast added 22:56 - Jul 28 Mick talks about missing out on signings in his interview ,trying but can't get the deals done it seems.
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paulnstar added 22:56 - Jul 28 If I was mick I'd get that money out and buy Gilbey and moncur off colchester they look the championship midfielders not coke and ambrose this season is gonna be a real drag if that's anything to go by
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runningout added 22:59 - Jul 28 that's Coke's one good game, as he did at Sheff Wed...
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TimmyH added 23:04 - Jul 28 Friendly or not...that is poor to concede 3 goals against lower league opposition in 1 half! - you don't see Man U, Chelsea etc. shipping these goals in pre-season friendlies against smaller clubs, you have to set the bar high.
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