U's suffer dramatic cup defeat (From Gazette)

U's suffer dramatic cup defeat

9:24pm Monday 16th February 2009 in Sport By Jonathan Waldron

Colchester United's hopes of reaching this season's Essex Senior Cup Final were ruined by two late Chelmsford City goals at Melbourne Park tonight.

It looked as though the U's were heading through to the final after Anthony Wordsworth's fine 17th minute strike had put them in command.

But substitute Jason Hallett dramatically levelled in the first minute of stoppage-time for City.

And then former U's player David Rainford slotted home from the penalty spot in the third minute of stoppage-time to inflict a dramatic 2-1 defeat on Colchester, in front of a crowd of more than 600.

Colchester had earlier had to ride their luck at times, with Ollie Berquez, Kevin James and Chris Moore all hitting the woodwork for the home side.

And a shoulder injury suffered by defender John White, which forced his substitution on the hour mark, will of no doubt be a concern to watching boss Paul Lambert ahead of the big Essex derby against Southend United this weekend.

Thankfully though, the injury was seemingly not as bad as first feared.

Coach Joe Dunne took charge of the U's side, which featured a mixture of senior and reserve team players.

Striker Sunday Wasiu, fresh from his one-month loan spell from Luton Town, started for Colchester at Melbourne Park, along with the likes of Wordsworth, White, Matt Heath and Medy Elito.

Wasiu almost made an immediate impact on his return, stabbing a low deflected effort just wide from close range from White's pass into the area.

Chelmsford responded with Berquez firing wide from a tight angle.

But the U's were ahead in the 17th minute.

Sam Corcoran picked the pocket of veteran Jeff Minton midway inside the City half.

That allowed Wordsworth to pick up possession before advancing towards goal and planting a fine left-foot shot low past goalkeeper Ashley Harrison.

White's low 35-yard effort was then deflected inches wide but Chelmsford responded well to the setback of falling behind.

Indeed, the home side came a lick of paint away from equalising midway through the firs half when James' first-time left-foot volley struck the post, after Lawrie Dudfield had floated the ball to the far post.

Cousins saved from Dudfield and James wastefully fired over from eight yards with the goal at his mercy, as the U's finished the first half on the back-foot.

However, Colchester squandered a golden opportunity to double their lead three minutes into the second half when Medy Elito side-footed wide when through on goal, following Andy Duncan's sloppy back-pass.

Berquez almost made Colchester pay for their profligacy five minutes later when the experienced midfielder saw his shot crash against the underside of the crossbar and bounce to safety, much to Cousins' relief.

James then raced through on goal midway through the second half only to blast over, before an incident between Colchester substitute Adam Bailey-Dennis and former U's player Dave Rainford triggered a melee involving everyone other than the goalkeepers.

Colchester almost wrapped the tie up with 20 minutes to go when Wordsworth's chip bounced back off the crossbar and Ian Cousins superbly blocked Russell Malton's close-range follow-up on the line.

Substitute Moore hit the outside of the post for Chelmsford before in the 90th minute, another substitute, Hallett, converted Berquez's cross to convert a last-gasp equaliser.

There was more drama to come.

After the U's had survived one penalty appeal when Berquez appeared to be felled by James Hammond in the area, Chelmsford were awarded a spot-kick seconds later and Rainford coolly slotted home in the third minute of stoppage-time to break the U's hearts.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Cousins, White (sub Griffiths, 60), Malton, Heath (sub Bailey-Dennis, 65), Corcoran, Nelson, Hammond, Wordsworth, Wassiu, Elito, Sansford. Substitutes (not used): Pavett, Pirie, Dickie (gk).

CHELMSFORD CITY: Harrison, Okay (sub Hallett, 78), Cousins, Duncan, Ward, Rainford, Berquez, Minton, Dudfield (Moore, 58), Keeling, Holmes (sub James, 10). Substitutes (not used): Modeste, Batchford.