A spirited second-half display was not enough to prevent Colchester United from losing 3-2 to Sheffield United to go out of this season's FA Cup at the first-round stage.

Colchester fell behind in the tenth minute when Harry Maguire headed home Tony McMahon's cross.

And the Blades made it 2-0 less than two minutes later when Chris Porter charged down Magnus Okuonghae's attempted pass and drilled in a cross-shot which went in off U's defender Tom Eastman, despite goalkeeper Sam Walker's attempts to keep it out.

Matt Hill hit the crossbar for Colchester soon after but U's boss Joe Dunne brought Ryan Dickson on for Andy Bond at half-time and what followed was a much-improved second half display by the U's.

They pulled a goal back three minutes after the break when Macauley Bonne nodded in after Clinton Morrison had helped on Luke Garbutt's delivery into the area.

And it was 2-2 just after the hour when Garbutt drilled in a fine low shot from 25 yards.

But the Blades won the tie when Chris Porter slotted in from the spot, after Okuonghae had been ruled to have handled Maguire's header inside the area.

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's game with Sheffield United, see Monday's Gazette.