DANNY Cowley says Colchester United will be going all out to lift the BBC Essex Senior Cup - and prove that they are the biggest club in the county.

The U’s host Pitching In Isthmian League Premier outfit Hashtag United tonight, aiming to secure their spot in this season’s final.

Colchester have been fielding a young side in the competition in addition to some first-team players.

The likes of Matt Jay, Tom Dallison and Bradley Ihonvien are expected to be involved ahead of tonight’s semi-final and head coach Cowley says they will be aiming to secure victory and book their place in the final.

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Cowley said: “For us, I believe we’re the biggest club in Essex.

“We have the opportunity to prove this by winning the Essex Senior Cup.

“Whenever there’s an opportunity to win something, this is the aim and you play to win.

“We picked a strong team against Buckhurst Hill and we had to show them a lot of respect, because they beat Canvey Island in the last round.

“We respect the opponent and we respect the competition and it’s one that we’re going to try to win.”

Gazette:

Chay Cooper has been involved in previous rounds of the competition for Colchester but will not feature tonight, after joining National League side Hartlepool United on a short-term loan last week.

The former Spurs youngster is yet to feature for the U’s under the Cowleys, with his last first-team appearance coming as a substitute in their 1-0 defeat to Gillingham, on New Year’s Day.

“Chay is someone who we think a lot of,” said Cowley, speaking prior to Cooper’s loan exit last week.

“I think he’s been really unlucky actually, because every day he affects me.

“He’s such a good trainer; he can back foot receive, he can speed the game up and technically, his finishing is really, really good.

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“I think he’s a young player with a lot to offer.

“I think he has to improve in some areas of his game and really for him, his development is a lot against the ball.

“We have to improve his physical quality and we’ve been working hard in the gym to try to improve the physical aspect of his performance and his behaviours against the ball.

“We like our front players to be our first defenders and they have to be able to press really aggressively and turn the ball over and have the heavy steps, not the soft steps, up to the ball and go at the ball.

Gazette: Chay Cooper

“These are the qualities we like and they’re probably things for Chay to add on.

“But certainly with the ball, wow, the way he can speed it up on the back foot and his ability to play through – what I love about him is when the ball comes short, he’ll then run long.

“You see a lot of players of his profile always coming to the ball and I don’t like tens who come to the ball; I like tens like Sammie Szmodics who are willing to penetrate and run beyond.

“Chay does that really well and he’s got really good game understanding.

“Of course, when he gets there, he can finish too.”