COLCHESTER United's youngsters bowed out of the Essex Senior Cup at the third-round stage after losing 2-0 at home to Romford, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Goals from Khadean Campbell and Danny Jones gave the Bostik North side victory, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

But there was a big positive for the U's though, with Louis Dunne coming on as a second-half substitute to continue his comeback following a long-term knee injury.

Christopher Taylor's shot whistled just over early on for Romford, before Colchester upped their game.

Ken Charles chipped a shot wide of the far post, while Romford keeper Rhys Hughes denied both Noah Chilvers and Andre Hasanally.

Colchester went even closer to taking the lead when Chilvers' left-foot effort from the edge of the box was superbly tipped over the bar by Hughes.

But Romford remained a threat and Kurt Smith's corner was pushed around the back post by keeper Bailey Vose.

There were very strong claims for a Romford penalty as a high boot in the box from a corner saw Jamie Marsh caught in the face area.

But as the ball was cleared upfield Callum Jones was hit by a bad challenge from Nathan Okoye which saw the home striker a bit dazed and needing to go off soon after and replaced by Eoin McKeown.

Vose blocked Campbell's shot but the U's also pressed, with Todd Miller's shot going wide of the near post and Hughes making a save low down to his left to deny Charles.

The sides went in goal-less at the break but the U’s went behind inside the opening minute of the second half.

A ball into the box saw Campbell out-muscle his marker and then slip the ball into the net.

Colchester looked to make an immediate response and McKeown headed wide of the back post, when well placed.

Romford remained a threat though and Ernest Okoh fired over the bar before the visitors' Marsh was forced off with what appeared to be a facial injury after a collision with Chris Forino, for which he needed lengthy treatment.

Colchester pressed for an equaliser and Charles was sent clear by Miller's pass only to be blatantly blocked off by defender Okoye who was lucky to only get a yellow card as he was the last man.

Dunne's resultant free-kick was bent just wide of the near post but Colchester fell further behind, with 12 minutes to go.

A ball down the right was fed to the centre and was converted by Jones to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Romford were reduced to ten men when Okoye received a second yellow card for a tackle from behind on Miller.

Forino's stoppage-time header was ruled out for offside, as Colchester exited the Essex Senior Cup.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Vose, Barnes, Agboola (sub Cracknell), Forino, Kazeem, Miller, Cornish (sub Dunne, 60), Chilvers, Hasanally, Jones (sub McKeown, 30), Charles. Substitute not used: Hallett.