A young Town U21 side were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Colchester United at a freezing Playford Road on Monday afternoon. The result leaves Town bottom of the Professional Development League Two South and without a win in their last nine matches.
With manager Mick McCarthy taking a number of the regular U21 players to Portsmouth for tomorrow's FA Cup replay, the Town side was mostly made up of Academy scholars. Alex Henshall and James Alabi were the two most senior players involved for Mark Kennedy's side.
The visitors started well and Callum Harrison's volley was deflected inches wide early wide on, before Tosin Olufemi broke forward on the right and pulled the ball back for Charley Edge to fire home after 11 minutes.
Femi Akinwande then doubled Colchester's lead just seven minutes later when he slotted the ball past Jonathan Henly from a tight angle, and the U's were looking dangerous every time they ventured towards the Town box.
However, the Blues should have got themselves back into the game midway through the half. Alabi turned a defender and latched onto Andre Dozzell's pass but blazed over, shortly before Conor McKendry got into a good position but could only produce a weak effort, which was comfortably gathered by keeper Dillon Barnes.
They were the two best chances that Town created and Colchester should have added to their lead before they eventually sealed the three points in the 78th minute. Diaz Wright - son of former Blue Jermaine - sent over a corner from the left and it was headed home by an unmarked Jamie Harney, and few could argue that the Essex side deserved a third goal.
It was a disappointing performance from Town, although James Blanchfield stood out in central midfield. Alabi used his strength well up front but was watched closely by Colchester's centre-halves, while Henshall had little effect on the game before he was substituted on the hour mark.
U21s: Henly, Jones, Woolfenden, Blanchfield, Salaudeen, Smith, McKendry, Dozzell, Alabi (Cathline 71), Morris, Henshall (Meldrum 60). Unused: Marsden, Ramadan.