Matty Roberts scored in the opening seconds but Town’s U21s were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-of-the-table Colchester United in Professional Development League Two South at Playford Road.

The Blues took the lead 27 seconds after the start, former Wales U19 international Roberts finding the top corner from a very tight angle on the left.

But the U’s got back on terms in the 10th minute via the sort of goal usually seen on a park pitch.

Kai Martin, who netted a hat-trick for Colchester’s U18s in a 3-2 victory over QPR at the weekend, chased a long ball down the middle between two Town defenders before shooting past Blues keeper Henry Gray.

Roberts forced a save from visitors keeper Harrison Chamberlain two minutes later cutting inside on the left at the edge of the area.

On 13, Town number nine Jamie Mauge, one of a number of regular U18s in the side, presumably with an eye to including more senior youngsters in this evening’s Suffolk Premier Cup game at Leiston, latched onto a low cross from the right but Chamberlain was able to block at his feet and turn the ball past the post.

From the resultant corner, the ball broke to Luke Towler not far outside the area and his shot was destined for the top corner until Chamberlain got across to palm it away.

Two minutes later, Max Joliffe shot not too far wide of Gray’s right post with the Blues having controlled the game but with the U’s a threat on the break.

In the 22nd minute, skipper Tommy Taylor crossed low from the right just ahead of Mauge.

Four minutes later, Taylor shot from a tight angle on the left, Chamberlain making a stop, the loose ball falling just too far for Mauge to make anything of it.

On 29, Tudor Mendel scuffed at goal from eight yards, Chamberlain saving comfortably, after a defender had similarly mis-hit as he sought to clear a cross from the left.

Blues first-team forward Sammie Szmodics came over from the other side of the training ground in full training kit, having missed the weekend win at Wolves through illness, chatting to staff from Colchester, the club where he started his career.

Two minutes before the break, Hakeem Sandah cut in from the left but hit a shot straight at Town keeper Gray.

The score remained 1-1 at half-time, the Blues having been the better side but without taking their chances, which became fewer the longer the half had gone on, while conceding a poor goal, Gray having been otherwise not seriously tested.

Six minutes after the restart, Roberts cut in from the left and hit a shot which was blocked by a defender.

Moments later, Mendel played in Taylor on the right of the box and the Town captain looked to be tripped, but the referee showed no interest in awarding a penalty.

Mendel, who joined the Blues from Anderlecht in August, shot over from the edge of the box, then 56 Towler saw a shot blocked, the ball falling to Charlie Compton, who shot wide. A minute later, Town right-back Leon Elliott was booked for a late tackle on Sandah.

The Blues made a triple change in the 66th minute adding more senior players, Josh Lewis, Towler and Compton making way for Ayyuba Jambang, Steven Turner and Ryan Carr.

Two minutes after the changes, Elliott came close to putting the Blues in front, slamming against a defender at the far post having been found by a cross from the left. Soon after, a Roberts ball in from the left flew just beyond Taylor.

On 71, Jambang was yellow-carded after pulling back Elkanah Akor, who had got behind him on right. Gray did well to push away Joel Thompson’s low free-kick down to his right.

As the game moved towards its final 10 minutes, the Blues were continuing to dominate but without being able to create a serious chance against a massed U’s defence.

On 79, Roberts thought he had a run on goal but a Colchester toe intervened and took away the chance. Following the corner, Mendel shot not too far wide.

With six minutes left on the clock, Jesse Ayoola looped a header over the bar from a free-kick on the left, then moments later Mendel cut in from the right but blazed over.

With the match in its final minute, Colchester broke away and sub Archie Oliver struck a low shot which was little trouble for Gray.

In injury time, a Blues free-kick flashed across the Colchester box but no one was able to add the final touch, summing up the U21s’ afternoon.

Town controlled the game throughout and having scored in the opening seconds looked set to go on to win comfortably against the division’s bottom side.

However, after conceding a goal straight out of Sunday morning football, they were unable to find a second goal.

The Blues had chances but mainly in the first third of the game with the second half largely one of huffing and puffing with Colchester keeper Chamberlain not tested enough.

A Town side likely to include a number of regular U21s is in Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-final action at Leiston this evening (KO 7.45pm).

Town: Gray, Elliott, Lewis (Jambang 66), Ayoola, O’Connor, Towler (Carr 66), Mendel, Compton (Turner 66), Mauge, Taylor (c), Roberts. Unused: Fletcher, Heard.

Photo: REUTERS/Michaela Stache

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