Micky Cook saluted his Colchester United team after they progressed to the FA Youth Cup fourth round.

Two goals from the impressive Ricki Metcalfe and another from Gregg Heighway was enough to beat the Saddlers at Layer Road last night.

And it was made all the more impressive as six of the squad had been on duty with the first team in their 4-1 defeat in the AutoWindscreen Shield at Swansea the previous night.

Goalkeeper Andy Walker, defender Jack Wignall, midfielders Thomas Pinault, Sean Hillier and Sam Okafor, and striker KK Opara were all in the squad which travelled to the Vetch Field.

Cook's squad is also suffering from a flu virus which is sweeping Layer Road but two of the players - Nicky Gyoury and Hillier - battled through the barrier.

The U's youth team boss, who is also on his sick-bed, said: "It was an excellent performance considering we had so many players on duty at Swansea and with the bug going round as well.

"We played some terrific football at times and it's all credit to the lads they stuck to their task.

"Walsall were watched by our scouts and we knew they were a good side but we worked out a game plan and stuck to it."

The U's impressed all night and they never looked back after taking the lead in the second minute when Metcalf bundled home a loose ball.

Walsall equalised through Karl Hawley in the 40th minute but the U's were back in front in first-half injury time when Heighway took advantage of some static Walsall defending.

The U's nosed further in front on the hour when Walsall keeper Craig Ross failed to hold Wignall's powerful header and Metcalf stabbed the ball home.

The Saddlers were handed a lifeline when substitute Andrew Bishop waltzed his way through the U's defence to reduce the deficit but the home side clung on in a frantic finish.

The draw for the fourth round will be made tomorrow and Metcalfe is hoping to draw one of the Premiership big guns.

The two-goal hero said: "Manchester United at Old Trafford would have been great but they have already been knocked out of the competition.

"But I'll settle for any of the big sides in the Premiership. It would be fantastic to play a team like Leeds United, Everton or Liverpool away in the next round."

U's line-up: Walker, Hillier, Taylor, Gyoury, Heighway, Wignall, Okafor, Canham, Opara, Pinault, Metcalfe. Subs: Chambers, Blackwell (for Gyoury), Hadua, Robinson.

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