COLCHESTER United's superb FA Youth Cup run came to an end tonight - despite a spirited late finish at St. James' Park, writes BRIAN WALLER.
The U's under-18s were beaten 3-2 by hosts Newcastle United in the fourth-round tie, to bow out of the prestigious competition.
FT| It's heartbreak for the U's who pushed Newcastle all the way, but it wasn't to be at St James' Park. #ColU pic.twitter.com/OHlbT6f45h
— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) January 17, 2022
There was an early home threat which was halted by good work from Bradley Chakawa to deny Kyle Crossley, before the visitors’ first chance came on eight minutes but Kaan Bennett was thwarted by a good tackle at the near post.
However Newcastle then took the lead in the 12th minute when from a cross, the intended clearance then ricocheted in off a U’s player for an unfortunate own goal.
Right from the restart, Colchester went very close to equalising.
This saw the delivery in by Bennett and Samson Tovide was denied by a brilliant save by home keeper Max Thompson with his legs.
After a booking for central defender Chakawa, Tovide thought that he had equalised midway through the half, but it was ruled out for offside.
Minutes later there was a good block on the back post by Ellis Sullivan to deny Crossley.
Just before half time, Jay Turner-Cooke was injured and had to be replaced by Lewis Miley.
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐖𝐈𝐍! 🙌#NUFC U18s progress into the fifth round of the #FAYouthCup! ⚫⚪ pic.twitter.com/Mp7yoOt05N
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 17, 2022
After the interval Freddie Price forced a save from the home keeper and then Bennett tried his luck from distance which was well saved.
Right-back Callum McNally then doubled the home advantage with a well placed volley after 56 minutes, before Bennett was then booked as the U’s tried to recover from the setback.
A first Colchester change saw Jaiden Drakes-Thomas replaced by Bradley Ihionvien and Harry Powell was on for Josh Stewart for the hosts.
The game looked over for the away side when Newcastle scored a third goal through MIichael Ndiweni, after 63 minutes.
Miley forced a good save from keeper Endurance Johnson with a dipping effort before Colchester made a substitution as T’aizo Marcel-Dilaver was on for Kai Redgrave.
The U’s looked to have got a consolation goal as after Bennett’s shot was saved, Samson Tovide was on hand to put away the rebound to make it 3-1 after 76 minutes.
Darnell Asare-Williams was then introduced in place of Price.
Dylan Charlton was then on for the injured Callum McNally who went off on a stretcher before Asare-Williams made a good run down the wing.
Amazingly the U’s then scored again through a tap-in by Marcel-Dilaver from a Tovide cross (90+5 mins).
With 11 minutes stoppage time decreed by the referee, the game still had a lot of play to go.
With Frankie Terry now pushed up front and home players lying injured, the elusive equaliser just would not come for the U's as Newcastle just about hung onto their lead, to book a fifth-round trip to play Blackpool.
Colchester United: Endurance Johnson, Ellis Sullivan, Bradley Chakawa, Frankie Terry, Freddie Price, Kai Redgrave, Kacy Parish, Ryan Lowe, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, Samson Tovide, Kaan Bennett with used subs: Bradley Ihionvien, T’aizo Marcel-Dilaver, Darnell Asare-Williams. Subs (not used): Jaime Tedaldi, Namory Kane, Bayan Aman, Matthew Yates.
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