by BRIAN WALLER

UNDER-23

COLCHESTER UNITED 1

IPSWICH TOWN 3

DESPITE another encouraging display by Colchester's Development squad, it was to be another defeat for them against league leaders Ipswich Town.

The U’s had the chance to take an early lead on 13 minutes, when Noah Chilvers' pass out to the left for Ollie Sims was not cut out by full-back Dylan Crowe.

The Town man then compounded his error by holding onto Sims as he broke in the box and this resulted in a U’s penalty.

It was taken by Callum Jones but keeper Harry Wright saved the spot-kick down to his left.

Straight away, the U’s conceded a free-kick on the left of the box.

It was taken by Brett McGavin but struck into the defensive wall, with the rebound by Crowe sent well wide.

Andre Hasanally found Sims on the left and after turning on the shot and striking it well, he was denied as Wright beat the shot away with his hands.

After another good run through the centre by Sims, he found Jones, whose cross was blocked and the ball then ran onto the keeper.

Jordan Roberts got away with a nudge on U’s defender Jayden Randell, but his curled left-footer went over the bar.

Superb U’s build-up play led to Wright saving from Hasanally.

However, against the run of play, the visitors took the lead.

Town broke after a U’s corner was overhit.

This saw Jack Lankester feed in Danny Rowe down the left, who lifted his shot past home keeper Ethan Ross.

Colchester continued to create all the chances.

Aaron Barnes and Sims linked up and Jones laid the ball back to Chilvers, who struck the shot well.

However, again Wright was down to his right to make the save.

Right on half-time, the U’s went close from a back-post header by Barnes from a Chilvers free-kick after the ball was flicked on.

After the break, Jones had a chance but failed to really test the keeper and Chilvers, after a good run, saw his shot blocked.

Almost immediately, Town broke down the left through Rowe who got away from Callum Anderson and found the far corner of the net.

The U’s were very unhappy with Town’s third goal as they felt the throw in was taken far too much upfield.

With no home defender in sight, Jordan Roberts moved forward to score.

Both teams made substitutions with Ken Charles and Eoin McKeown on for Sam Cornish and Callum Jones.

Finally, the U’s were rewarded for their efforts when a corner from the left went deep.

Sims rescued the ball on the right and from his cross back into the goalmouth, it was met by a powerful header into the net by Chris Forino.

Team: Ethan Ross, Callum Anderson, Chris Forino, Jayden Randell, Al-Amin Kazeem, Andre Hasanally, Aaron Barnes, Noah Chilvers, Ollie Sims, Sam Cornish and Callum Jones with used subs: Ken Charles and Eoin McKeown and unused subs: Callum Coulter and Billy Cracknell.