A NUMBER of first-team players featured as Colchester United progressed to the BBC Essex Senior Cup fourth round, writes BRIAN WALLER.

A U's side featuring the likes of Ryan Clampin, Marley Marshall Miranda and Tom Dallison beat Dagenham and Redbridge 5-3 on penalties, after the tie at Victoria Road had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Within a minute of the start, Dagenham keeper Dixon made a superb double save from Bradley Ihionvien.

Then on nine minutes, Jayden Fevrier made a great run into the box before setting up Benedict Bioletti but he shot over the bar.

Just past the quarter mark there was another chance for Ihionvien but his shot deflected away for a corner.

There was a lot of U’s pressure and Fevrier saw his shot flying just wide.

After a knock Miranda was able to continue after treatment, before Fevrier and Ihionvien linked well, but the former then shot over the bar.

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After Clampin made a good run down the left, the ball ran to Harvey Sayer but he failed to get a decent contact on his shot.

And four minutes before the break, Daggers took the lead through Jay Bird as the U's went in trailing at the break.

At the break, Colchester made a double substitution with Lordon Akolbire and Kaan Bennett replaced Bioletti and Fevrier.

After Bird shot wide eight minutes after the interval, Colchester then pressed with Sayer shooting from distance and seeing his shot fly wide.

Frankie Terry was sent on for Dallison after that.

And despite the home team dominating the second half, the U’s equaliser with 13 minutes remaining when Terry duly headed home from a corner.

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After a great run down the right, Bennett's shot was saved while at the other end, home keeper again excelled to deny Donell Thomas.

The match then went to penalties with Lowe converting the first for Colchester.

After Miranda converted his, Thomas's spot-kick went in off the bar and Sayer scored his but the hosts always netted all theirs, too.

After a great save by Ted Collins, the U’s won it 5-3 as Ihionvien netted the deciding penalty to sent Colchester through.

Colchester United: Ted Collins, Benedict Bioletti (sub Lordon Akolbire), Harry Beadle, Tom Dallison (sub Frankie Terry), Ryan Clampin, Ryan Lowe, Marley Marshall Miranda, Donell Thomas, Jayden Fevrier (sub Kaan Bennett), Harvey Sayer, Bradley Ihionvien.