COLCHESTER United's youngsters were beaten 2-0 at Nottingham Forest in their latest Professional Development League Two match, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Both teams began the match well at the Nigel Doughty Academy with home defender Silvio Bellio sending a shot over the bar before the U's began to exert some pressure.

Just before the quarter hour mark, Forest went very close.

A free-kick was driven in by Gibson-Hammond but when the ball ran loose to Esapa Osong, his effort was superbly saved by keeper Ted Collins.

Collins then fouled Finn Back three minutes to concede a penalty but redeemed himself by saving Boland's weak spot-kick with his legs.

Colchester then went very close midway through the first half as a good move saw the shot set up for Kacy Parish but he was unable to get his fierce shot on target.

But Forest took the lead on 27 minutes through Back, who directed a header from a Hammond corner back into the net.

The hosts then went close again when a great cross-field pass by Boland found Gibson-Hammond, who beat his opponent but then fired into the side netting.

Shortly before half-time, Forest went close again as Gibson-Hammond did very well down the left found Mutoti but a deflection on his shot took it just wide.

Forest began the second half on top and two minutes after the interval,Osong broke clear of the offside line but a deflection on his shot took it away for a corner.

Just before the hour mark, Marley Miranda saw his header being comfortably saved by home keeper Statham.

Osong then robbed U's keeper Collins and when the ball then ran to Gibson-Hammond, his effort was cleared off the line.

With just over a quarter of an hour to go, a Back driven in cross saw Gibson-Hammond arriving on the far post but he was unable to squeeze the ball into the net.

As Colchester retaliated they went very close, as Sonny Fish broke but his effort was saved by the home keeper before Kai Redgrave then saw his effort blocked.

Back saw his looping header cleared off the line, before Forest got a second goal to wrap up victory in the second minute of stoppage-time.

This came in stoppage time as Back netted with a cool finish across the goal after some good set up work by Oliver Hammond.