Luciano Civelli and Damien Delaney continued their comebacks as Town’s reserves lost 3-1 to Colchester at Maldon and Tiptree’s Park Drive. The U’s fielded a more experienced line-up and deserved their victory with Lloyd James, Matt Heath and Kayode Odejayi on target, with Town replying via a Ben Coker own goal.
The Blues lined up with Arran Lee-Barrett in goal, Troy Brown at right-back with Tom Eastman and Damien Delaney at the heart of the defence and Seb Dunbar on the left. In midfield, Conor Hourihane played the holding role with Jamie Griffiths and Colin Healy ahead of him, while Reggie Lambe was on the right and Luciano Civelli on the left. Ronan Murray was the lone striker.
Town’s Bermudian winger Reggie Lambe scraped the game’s first chance wide, then Colchester defender Paul Reid saw a shot blocked inside the Town area.
On 20 Jordan Sanderson clipped a 25-yard effort narrowly over in a game of few early chances with the home side having much the better of it.
The U’s went in front in the 25th minute when Tom Bender crossed from the left, Tom Eastman missed the ball, which struck Lloyd James and beat Arran Lee-Barrett.
Three minutes later, Colchester made it two. Sam Corcoran whipped in a corner from the right, Reid headed down and Matt Heath nodded home from close range.
Corcoran slammed a 30-yard freekick wide with the U’s continuing to have the better of it. The Blues had what looked a good shout for a penalty on 38 when Murray looked to be felled by keeper Ben Williams but referee Simon Long waved away the protests.
The half-time scoreline hardly flattered the U’s who had been much the better side. Neither Civelli nor Delaney had made much of an impression and returned to continue their comebacks after the break. Jamie Griffiths made way for the more combative David Cawley, while Troy Brown switched to centre-half with Tom Eastman moving to right-back.
The Blues pulled a goal back six minutes into the new half, Colin Healy making a run and putting in a cross which former Bury Town defender Ben Coker turned into his own net. Soon after, Seb Dunbar was booked for a foul. The full-back was lucky to avoid a second yellow moments later when he reacted to a late Steven Gillespie challenge, which sparked a minor bout of handbags.
Colchester restored their two-goal advantage in the 62nd minute, Kayode Odejayi diverting the ball into the net from a cross from the right.
Five minutes later, Colin Healy curled a 20-yard shot just wide. Soon afterwards, David Cawley was booked for a foul on Coker.
On 75 Civelli was replaced by Caolan Lavery, the Argentinian having been largely a peripheral figure but appearing to come through without injury. Soon after, Ronan Murray scraped a shot just wide from the edge.
Reggie Lambe was close to pulling a goal back as the game moved into the final 10 minutes, running on to a Healy pass, cutting in and hitting a powerful shot just over the bar.
But Town rarely looked like getting back into the game and the home side deserved their victory, although the Blues will feel they ought to have been awarded a first half penalty when Williams brought down Murray.
Delaney, like Civelli, appeared to come through with no ill effects, the Irishman managing the full 90 minutes.
Boss Roy Keane watched the game along with Tony Loughlan and Antonio Gomez, while chief executive Simon Clegg also took in the match.
Reserves: Lee-Barrett, Dunbar Clark 62), Brown, Hourihane, Eastman, Delaney, Lambe, Griffiths (Cawley 46), Murray, Healy, Civelli (Lavery 75). Unused: Ainsley, O’Donnell.
Photo: James Ager