Lewis Kinsella got some more valuable game time as Colchester United’s under-23s were beaten 2-0 at Millwall, in their latest Professional Development League Two match.

Kinsella, who has not featured for the first team since October because of a serious ankle injury, played a second game for the U’s development squad as part of his comeback in their loss against the Lions at Dartford FC.

The former Aston Villa youngster, who has been out since damaging ankle ligaments against Newport County, played for an hour for Colchester to follow up his appearance against Manchester City's development side in the Premier League Cup, ten days ago.

Millwall started well but their shooting was rather wayward as shots by Jamie Philpot were either wide or over the bar.

However, the hosts took on the lead on 22 minutes when a Harry Donovan free-kick was headed in off the bar by Noel Leighton.

Kinsella’s right-foot shot forced a good save from Millwall keeper Sandford before half-time, as the U’s went in at the break trailing.

Eli Phipps headed a Brendan Ocran cross wide for Colchester in the opening stages of the second half, as they looked to find a way back into the contest.

However, with 19 minutes remaining, Millwall effectively wrapped up victory.

Colchester keeper Rhys Williams did well to up push Philpot's driven-in cross-shot up into the air and when Leighton crashed in the follow-up effort, the ball hit U's defender Ollie Kensdale and ricocheted over the bar.

However from the resulting corner, the referee spotted an infringement in the box and awarded Millwall a penalty which Philpot thumped into the right hand corner of the net.

Colchester did create a few opportunities late on, the best of which came from a George Brown cross that saw Phipps head just over the bar.

But although U's forced corners they were unable to seriously test the home keeper. 

Colchester United: Williams, Ocran, Kensdale, Peter, Kinsella, Brown, Diaz Wright, Howard, Dunne, Phipps, Issa. Substitutes: McKeown, Harrison, Keyes, Phillips, Cosgrave.

Colchester's under-23s will be looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to play their Derby County counterparts in Premier League Cup Group C at St George's Park next Monday, kick-off 7pm.