COLCHESTER UNITED 1

(Bonne 42)

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1

(Ajose 32)

Colchester won 4-3 on penalties

COLCHESTER United halted their miserable win-less run with a dramatic penalty shoot-out success against Charlton, in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Macauley Bonne headed their first-half leveller after the Addicks had gone in front through Nicky Ajose.

And with the tie finishing 1-1, a shoot-out was needed to determine the winner.

Although Louis Dunne missed, Kurtis Guthrie, Bonne, Drey Wright and Craig Slater netted from the spot to end the U’s Trophy campaign on a high, although they still finished bottom of Southern Group E.

The victory was no more than the U’s deserved, following a strong second-half display, and they had opportunities to grab a winner.

John McGreal’s men went into tonight’s match on the back of a wretched ten-game win-less run.

Their stuttering spell of six defeats and four draws included a 2-1 reverse against Southampton Under-23s in their last Checkatrade Trophy fixture.

It meant they were already out of the much-maligned competition but a win of any description was still badly needed to kick-start the club’s ailing season.

McGreal handed welcome starts to three long-term injury victims.

Centre-half Frankie Kent, Tom Lapslie and Brennan Dickenson were making their first appearances since August 9, September 10 and September 24 respectively.

George Lapslie, Tom’s younger brother, was on the bench for Charlton.

There was little to report in the early stages.

The persistent Wright nearly capitalised on indecision in the area while Kane Vincent-Young tried his luck with a powerful shot from the right that tested keeper Dillon Phillips.

However, it was the Addicks who soon nosed in front after a low, left-wing cross from debutant Joe Aribo.

Ajose was on hand to turn the ball home from six yards.

Colchester responded well and were back on level terms ten minutes later.

Wright delivered a perfect cross from the right and Bonne placed an unstoppable header beyond Phillips.

It was his first U’s goal of the season, adding to the one he managed during his loan spell at Lincoln City.

Colchester pressed in the second half and appealed for a penalty when Guthrie was pulled in the area, trying to connect with Richard Brindley’s cross.

Substitute Brindley then delivered another ball from deep on the right but Kent, who had crept goal-side of the Addicks defence, could only stab his effort straight at Phillips.

The U’s looked far more likely to grab a winner now and another of their substitutes, Slater, unleashed a low, powerful effort from the edge of the box that was pushed away by Phillips.

Guthrie then had another great chance after cutting in from the right, but his tame, low effort was easily smothered by the Charlton keeper.

Brandon Hanlan headed agonisingly wide at the other end while Guthrie went close again with an effort that stung Phillips’ hands.

However, it was not to be and with the contest all-square at full-time, a shoot-out was needed to determine the winner.

The game was watched by just 548 people.

It was the lowest-ever crowd for a U’s first-team home fixture - even fewer than the 719 who turned out for the last Checkatrade Trophy match against the Saints on October 4.

U’s: Barnes, Vincent-Young (Brindley 46), Kent, Eastman, Wynter, Lapslie (Slater 60), Kamara, Wright, Guthrie, Dickenson (Dunne 46), Bonne.

Unused subs: Bransgrove, Prosser, Szmodics, Johnstone.

Charlton: Phillips, Konsa, Johnson, Teixeira, Lennon, Chicksen, Foley (Ahearne-Grant 75), Crofts (Ulvestad 46), Aribo, Hanlan, Ajose (Novak 46).

Unused subs: Rudd, Charles-Cook, Umerah, Lapslie.

Referee: John Brooks.