Colchester United's under-23s were beaten 2-0 at Hull City in their first Professional Development League Two game of the season this afternoon, writes BRIAN WALLER.

The Tigers struck in both halves to claim victory at the KCOM Stadium and inflict a first defeat on new U's under-23 manager Kevin Horlock.

Cameron James featured for Colchester, along with summer signings Bailey Vose, David Agboola and Noah Chesmain.

There was an early threat by Colchester on three minutes as Josh Thacker was making a telling interception to stop the through ball reaching the visiting captain Tariq Issa.

Straight after this, Matthew Jacob was there to stop another chance being created inside the home area.

As City attacked for the first time on five minutes, Keane Lewis-Potter, at the near post, was threatening to turn a low cross goalwards, but the U’s were able to clear the danger.

As Colchester got forward again, there was a great break down the left wing by Ryan Clampin, that saw him go past Will Taylor but he was to be halted by a tackle in the box by Thacker.

Hull attacked again as Elliot Holmes won the ball in midfield and burst forward, with the intent to find Callum Smith, but the visitors managed to cut out the danger with a good interception. Home defender Thacker was certainly busy in the early stages of the game as he was there again to halt Dean Ager who went on a great attacking mazy run.

It was certainly an impressive start by the visitors as Greaves was down to cut out a low cross by James, with home keeper George Long grabbing the resulting corner in.

As Clampin continued to be a big threat, his burst forward resulted in a good save by keeper Long.

An Issa chip over the top nearly put Eoin McKeown in on goal, but keeper Long was swiftly off his line to claim the ball.

Hull had seen so little of the action recently but did create an opening as after some good determination by Max Sheaf, it saw him winning the ball in midfield and he burst forward but he was to be dispossessed on the edge of the area.

However probably against the run of the play to date, City took the lead just before the half hour.

This came from Tyler Hamilton who scored with a fine strike from outside the area, with his low attempt beating keeper Bailey Vose after he was set up by Holmes.

The first booking of the game went to home skipper Hickey after a cynical foul in his own half and then a foul on Issa gave the U’s the chance to strike after he was fouled by Holmes.

However it was he who took the resulting free kick, but this was curled over the bar.

After Colchester gave away possession, Lewis broke on the counter attack and he tried to find Hamilton, but he lost control of the ball and the danger was cleared away to safety.

At the interval both teams made changes as Billy Chadwick was on for Sheaf for City and Paul Rooney replaced Clampin for Colchester.

Five minutes after half-time from a quickly throw out from keeper Long, he found Hamilton down the left wing and when he got past his marker he crossed in towards Lewis-Potter but his attempt was well blocked before keeper Vose could be tested.

Just before the hour mark, Colchester then very close again as McKeown forced his way into the Hull box from the left but he was denied by a superb one-hand save by the home keeper Long.

In quick succession both teams made a second substitution of the match on the hour mark as George Brown was on for Arjanit Krasniqi and for City, and it was Ahmed Salam for goalscorer Hamilton for City.

On 63 minutes, a great chance was wasted by the visitors as from an Issa cross, McKeown was firing over the bar from close range.

The U’s miss proved to be costly as Hull then scored a second goal after a couple of close calls.

Lewis-Potter rose brilliantly inside the box to meet Jacob's left-wing cross but just could not keep his header down.

Then another chance for him as he got on the end of Chadwick’s low cross but once more his attempt was over the bar.

However straight after this, the target was hit as he set up his team mate and it was to be a debut goal by Callum Smith, as found in the box, it was a superb curling effort into the net to make it 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining.

A final home change saw Tom Powell replace Holmes.

With just a minute of normal time left, City were denied a third as from a cut back by Hickey, Salam’s attempt was well blocked.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Bailey Vose, Cameron James, David Agboola, Chris Forino, Ryan Clampin, Noah Chilvers, Arjanit Krasniqi, Dean Ager, Eoin McKeown, Tariq Issa and Callum Jones. Substitutes: Paul Rooney, George Brown, Callum Coulter.