A SECOND-HALF penalty from Michael Folivi helped Colchester United's under-23s claim a 1-0 victory at QPR this afternoon, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Folivi scored the U's winner from the spot just after the hour mark, after the former Watford youngster had earned the penalty himself after being brought down in the box.

It was a welcome win for Colchester's under-23s, managed by Richard Hall and Dave Huzzey, who moved above their opponents in the Professional Development League Two table with the victory.

Folivi was one of a number of players with first-team experience to feature for the U's, against Rangers.

Josh Doherty, Josh Bohui, Junior Tchamadeu, Samson Tovide and Marley Marshall Miranda were also involved against Paul Hall's side at Harlington, along with the likes of Harvey Sayer and Andre Hasanally.

It was a meeting of the two sides who began the match eighth and seventh respectively in the league table. When the two sides faced each other back in November, they contested a 0-0 draw in the game that was played at the home of Maldon and Tiptree.

Rangers went close in the opening minute when Armalindo Mema attacked down the wing but pulled his shot wide of the target from the edge of the box.

Luck was then on the U’s side after seven minutes when Manasse Mampala was fouled in the box but the flag had already gone up for offside.

In the first away threat, a driven-in cross by Tchamadeu was comfortably dealt with by the home keeper Murphy Mahoney-Cooper and after a clever turn and evading his marker, Amrit Bansal-McNulty was brought down.

Moments later and the R’s player was shown a yellow card after a foul on Bohui and then the home player was in action again as he clipped in a cross towards the far post for Shiloh Remy, who swung a foot at it but completely missed the ball.

Into the second half and Bohui broke well but fired over the bar but at the other end, Mampala's effort hit a post with substitute Trent Mahorn's attempt saved by U's keeper Callum Coulter.

Colchester broke the deadlock after 63 minutes through Folivi, who scored from the spot.

Substitute Dillan De Silva saw an effort deflected wide after he had driven at the Colchester defence and De Silva's weak effort dribbled wide, for the hosts.

The visitors were able to hold for the win and the three points which took them up to seventh place in the table.

U's U23 squad: Coulter, Tchamadeu, Akolbire, Terry, Doherty, Marshall Miranda, Cornish, Bohui, Sayer, Folivi, Tovide, Hutchinson, Tricker, Hasanally, Johnson, trialist.

QPR U23: Mahoney-Cooper, Williams-Lowe, Carlyle, Pitblado, Domi (sub Mahorn), Remy, Duncan, Griffiths (sub De Silva), Mampala, Bansal-McNulty, Mema (sub Duke-McKenna). Sub (not used): Little.