Town's U18s were involved in a nine-goal thriller but ultimately ended up on the wrong side of a 5-4 scoreline at Colchester United on Saturday morning as their recent winning run came to an end.

Harry Wright made two fine saves in the first few minutes to deny Callum Jones, while at the other end Conor McKendry's left-foot shot hit a post and Declan Daniels headed wide from a corner when he should have given Town the lead.

Daniels was denied by a good block from U's keeper George Phillips shortly after and the Liverpudlian striker then headed McKendry's corner against the crossbar midway through the first half.

Despite the end-to-end flow and the glut of early chances for both sides, the opening goal didn't arrive until the 36th minute. Ben Folami produced a strong burst forward and his effort was parried by Phillips, but skipper Ross Meldrum (pictured) followed up and slotted the ball through the keeper's legs to give Town the lead.

Two minutes later Phillips kept McKendry's shot out and Meldrum headed the rebound against the bar, before the home side got back on level terms on 42.

A corner from the left was only half-cleared and Aaron Cosgrave's through ball released Jones, who hit the ball across Wright and into the bottom corner.

On the stroke of half-time the impressive McKendry restored Town's advantage with a 20-yard freekick which took a very slight deflection off the U's wall.

However the sides went into the break level as Ryan Clampin's left-wing cross was turned into the net by an unmarked Eoin McKeown in stoppage time.

Four minutes after the restart the hosts took the lead. Wright somehow tipped Clampin's freekick onto the woodwork and then blocked McKeown's follow-up, but Cosgrave turned the ball goalwards and despite a number of Town defenders being on the line, referee Michael Scott awarded the goal.

Alan Lee's side fell further behind just two minutes later when Tom Carlton's deep free-kick on the left was headed into the corner of the net by McKeown.

On 66 the Essex side scored again when McKeown's good run and low cross from the right was turned into his own net by Ross Marshall, who was under pressure from Jones.

Within a minute Town had pulled a goal back though as Folami did well to head the ball down for Meldrum to slot home from close range.

Colchester stopper Phillips got down low to keep Folami's effort out but he had the woodwork to thank again soon after when Meldrum's corner kick rebounded off the bar.

Town did reduce the arrears again in the second minute of stoppage time when sub Jack Lankester drove forward and hit a fine left-foot shot from 20 yards beyond Phillips, but they weren't able to find an equaliser despite some late pressure.

In truth both sides could and probably should have scored more goals, and Daniels in particular will have been disappointed he wasn't able to find the net. McKendry looked dangerous throughout and although he suffered with cramp late on, Nydam will have been pleased to get some more game-time in following his recent injury lay-off.

U18s: Wright, Murrell, Clements, Nydam, Marshall, Ndaba, Meldrum, McGavin (Wilton 68), Daniels (Lankester 85), Folami, McKendry. Unused: Hayes, Cahill.

Photo: TWTD

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