Colchester United under-23s' final game of the season ended in a very disappointing 3-0 defeat against bottom-of-the-table Leeds United, at Florence Park.

Wayne Brown's side rarely threatened throughout the Professional Development League Two match, which was dominated by the visitors.

Huddersfield Town's Sam Warde and Dan Jefferies of Swansea City got another chance to impress for the U's on trial, as did Sunderland's young centre-back, Dan Casey.

In the early stages, Eoin McKeown pulled a shot just wide and turned a chance over the bar soon after.

Colchester fell behind after 12 minutes when Billy Whitehouse cut the ball back across the box to Eoghan Stokes, who steered his shot low to the right of keeper George Phillips.

Phillips denied Stokes before Leeds then scored a crucial second goal right on half-time.

Left-back Tom Pearce got forward and set up Stokes who headed in at the near post.

The U’s probably should have got a penalty just before the break when Dion Sembie-Ferris got into the box and went down under a challenge by Leeds keeper Harrison Male, but the referee waved play on.

Colchester found themselves 2-0 down at half-time and Stokes drove a shot over the bar, in the opening stages of the second half.

Whitehouse's effort hit the outside of a post midway through the second half and Pearce's surging run saw him evade Dan Casey’s challenge and fire just wide of the near post.

In a rare home sortie forward, Charley Edge drove wide of the far post before Leeds wrapped up their victory with eight minutes remaining.

Stokes was found on the left and from his cross in, Mallik Wilks got in ahead of Josh Pollard to fire the ball into the net.

It was a disappointing end to the season for Colchester's youngsters, who finished eighth place in the table.

Colchester United: Phillips, Pollard, Casey, Jefferies, Edge, Sembie-Ferris, McKeown, Dunne, Phipps, Issa, Warde.

Substitutes: Jones, Ager, Howard, Kensdale, Williams.

Colchester under-17s lost 3-1 in a friendly at Crystal Palace, with Dean Ager scoring their consolation.