A LATE comeback was not enough to prevent Colchester United's under-21s from losing 3-2 at home to Millwall in their latest Professional Development League Two match, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Having won their last two league games played at Maldon and Tiptree FC, the U's went into their game against the Lions, delayed due to the lack of a paramedic at the ground, hoping for more success.

However, they faced a Millwall team who were top of the table and who had beaten Watford 7-0 earlier in the week.

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When the match finally kicked off 30 minutes late, the visitors soon led after nine minutes, as Shamar Lawson's shot was saved by Ted Collins and Nana Boateng put away the rebound.

It took Colchester 24 minutes to create anything of note as trialists B and A linked to win a corner.

Then four minutes later, T'aizo Marcel Dilaver cut back inside but keeper George Evans made a very good save, down to his left.

Trialist B then took a free-kick but this went wide of the near post, while Oscar Thorn got away down the right but Kaleel Greens shot in the centre was blocked. 

 

Marcel Dilaver and trialist A also had shots blocked while at the other end, Thorn was muscled off the ball by Abdul Abdulmalik and he was away but U's goalkeeper Ted Collins was bravely out at the striker's feet.

After half-time, Millwall netted five minutes into the second half when Lawson crossed from the right and Abdul Abdulmalik scored from close range. 

Dilaver and Mupomba combined well to win a corner before Millwall made it 3-0 with 11 minutes remaining when Boateng crossed from the right and Dapo Olugbodi mis-hit a shot into the ground, which eluded Collins.

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Colchester rallied late in game and pulled a goal back two minutes later through Marcel Dilaver, who relayed the ball back in following a corner and although keeper Evans caught the ball, he somehow carried it over the line.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Colchester pulled another goal back.

Thorn sprinted past Myers and from his pinpoint cross, trialist C headed into the net but it was too little, too late for the U's.

Colchester United U21: Ted Collins, Oscar Thorn, Frankie Edwards, Bailey Berry (sub Jet Dryer), Ryan Lowe, Archie Oliver, Trialist A, Trialist B (sub Max Jolliffe), Kaleel Green (sub Trialist C), Kennedy Mupomba, T'aizo Marcel Dilaver. Subs (not used): Bayan Aman, Harrison Chamberlain.