CORIE Andrews was on target as Colchester United's under-23s were beaten 3-1 at Fulham to bow out of the Premier League Cup, writes BRIAN WALLER.

It was the U’s last to chance qualify in this season’s competition but they really needed to win their final group match at Motspur Park against the league leaders and also hope that Southend United did them a favour in their match at Roots Hall against Stoke City.

But sadly both sides trailed in the opening ten minutes of their games, Fulham and Stoke both took early leads.

It was a quick start by the home team who won a corner in the opening second which goalkeeper Ted Collins punched clear, following Sonny Hilton's delivery.

Colchester were dealing with a lot of home pressure and after Collins failed to deal with a Luciano D’Auria-Henry low cross, the ball was cleared as Kieron Bowie closed in.

However Fulham eventually took advantage of their control on the match.

They took the lead after ten minutes when their trialist fired home after several shots had been blocked.

Soon after this, Hilton nearly added a second goal as Collins charged off his line but a defender got back to block the attempt on goal.

Colchester then hit back as twice they threatened, with Andrews and Marley Marshall-Miranda both firing wide.

At the other end, Adrion Pajaziti went close in a counter attack as Hilton set him up, but Collins made a good save while from another Hilton assist, D’Auria-Henry went close too.

Five minutes after half-time though, the U’s were level.

A driven cross found Andrews, who cut in before driving his shot into the net.

However three minutes later and the U’s were on the back foot when Harry Beadle flew in with a challenge on the trialist and was shown a red card.

Ziyad Larkeche should have put Fulham back ahead on 56 minutes.

Hilton fed through D’Auria-Henry, whose floated cross was met by the left-back, who fired wide.

However a home substitute made a difference with 25 minutes remaining when he put the hosts in front again, as Olly Sanderson went around a defender before putting his shot away.

Another Fulham substitute, Xavier Benjamin, was in the action clearing a Sam Cornish effort off the line before Fulham got a third goal with four minutes remaining.

Larkeche played the ball down the line to find Pajaziti who evaded a challenge before he cut inside before putting his shot into the far corner of the net, to condemn the U's to defeat.