McGoldrick Makes Scoring Return as U23s Draw at Colchester Monday, 17th Oct 2016 21:48 by James Ager David McGoldrick scored and completed 69 minutes for Town's U23 side as they drew 2-2 at Colchester United's Weston Homes Community Stadium on Monday evening. McGoldrick's early opener was cancelled out by Femi Akinwande and despite Shane McLoughlin netting just before half-time, Dion Sembie-Ferris grabbed a point for the Essex side. Alongside McGoldrick in Town's starting XI were keeper Michael Crowe, who made his debut for Wales U21s last week, and midfielder Adam McDonnell who is continuing his return from a recent injury lay-off. Colchester included Diaz Wright, son of former Town midfielder Jermaine, in their line-up. McGoldrick, who started in a role just behind young strike pair Ben Morris and McLoughlin, announced his return with the opening goal inside 90 seconds. Right-back Luke Woolfenden won the ball on the edge of the U's box and James Blanchfield's curling cross was headed into the net from close range by the former Nottingham Forest striker, making his return after rupturing ankle ligaments in the EFL Cup tie with Stevenage. Crowe was off his line quickly as the quarter hour mark approached to smother at the feet of U's striker Tariq Issa after some neat build-up play involving Akinwande. The Town keeper did well to keep Town ahead minutes later when he parried George Brown's fierce shot, before Woolfenden blocked Akinwande's follow-up effort. However, the home side levelled on 21. Brown latched onto a through ball and he was adjudged to have been brought down by Woolfenden before he could get his shot away, although referee Mr Howard decided against showing a card. Crowe dived to his left and kept Akinwande's spotkick out, but the striker bravely followed up and headed the ball into the net. Crowe picked up an ankle injury in his attempt to preserve Town's advantage and had to be replaced by youngster Harry Wright, son of former Blues keeper Richard. Shortly after the half hour Wright was called into action for the first time when he tipped Lloyd Doyley's glancing header around his post following Issa's dangerous free-kick from the right. Despite having to withstand pressure from the hosts throughout most of the first half following their early opener, Town went into the break in front. McGoldrick's low 30-yard drive crashed off the foot of Dillon Barnes's post and McLoughlin reacted first to bravely head the bouncing ball home from a couple of yards out under pressure from a U's defender. The Irishman has scored a goal in each of the last three U23s league games and also in the recent friendly against Southend.
The Blues were forced into their second change at half-time. Woolfenden had been struggling for much of the half following his early challenge which led to McGoldrick's opener and Flynn Downes, who was sent off for the U18s against Sheffield United at the weekend, took over in an unfamiliar right-back role. McGoldrick moved up front alongside Morris for the second period. On 53 an impressive turn from Morris was enough to release McGoldrick, but his left-footed shot was straight at Barnes and was comfortably gathered. As the hour mark approached, the home side equalised for a second time. Sembie Ferris's cross from the right rather fortuitously floated over Wright and glanced off the far post and into the net. McGoldrick was then withdrawn in what appeared to be a pre-planned substitution just after halfway through the second half. The striker, who will have been pleased to get some much-needed minutes under his belt and is now set to be involved with the first team at Newcastle on Saturday, was replaced by Monty Patterson, who scored his first full international goal for New Zealand last week. On 79 England U18 international Morris cut in from the left and hit a shot that was destined for the top corner until Barnes tipped the ball away for a corner kick. Despite some half-chances at both ends, neither side could secure the win and a draw was probably the fair result. McGoldrick's all-round performance will have caught the eye of watching first-team boss Mick McCarthy, while Morris looked dangerous up front throughout. Kundai Benyu dominated much of the game from his central midfield role and McLoughlin's goal was the least he deserved for a hard-working display. U23s: Crowe (Wright 24), Woolfenden (Downes 46), Webber, Benyu, Fowler, C Smith, Blanchfield, McGoldrick (Patterson 69), Morris, McLoughlin, McDonnell. Unused: McKendry. Colchester: Barnes, Ocran, James, Wright, Doyley (Peter 61), Kent, Sembie-Ferris (Sheriff 64), Regis, Akinwande, Issa (Harrison 83), Brown. Unused: Williams, O'Donoghue.
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