COLCHESTER United's under-23s played out a goal-less draw at Hull City in their latest Professional Development League Two match, writes BRIAN WALLER.

The U’s travelled to the MKM stadium in a rescheduled fixture, several weeks before it was due to be played in April.

The first chance fell to Colchester as Chay Cooper cut inside but his left-foot effort was blocked by Festus Arthur.

Midway through the half a superb cross field ball set Harry Lovick away down the left wing and after a good challenge by Camron Gbadebo a corner ensued.

The delivery in by Harry Wood was aimed for McCauley but the U’s got the ball clear.

Another pass across the pitch found the run of Snelgrove on the right wing, he tried to pick out Josh Hinds but from the low delivery in, Frankie Terry was getting the ball clear.

Just before the interval, Snelfrove was replaced by Louis Beckett.

In stoppage time, after some good build up play, Lovick’s cross found Tom Nixon on the edge of the box, but he shot over the bar.

After half-time, the U’s almost took the lead within a few seconds as Freddie Price evaded his marker and drilled a cross towards goal but his effort was pushed away by keeper Tom Macauley before the hosts cleared the rebound.

Some neat passing saw Nixon and Lovick link up to find the run of Will Jarvis whose cross shot was deflected away for a corner.

The resulting ball in was punched clear by keeper Ted Collins.

Home keeper Macauley was in the action twice as he was down to hold the header from Marley Marshall-Miranda as he got on the end of Ryan Lowe’s delivery in, then he was denying Donell Thomas.

On the counter attack the Tigers went close as Beckett found the run of Jarvis but his effort sent into the ground bounced over the bar.

However with no-one able to break the deadlock, the match ended goal-less.

Colchester United U23: Ted Collins, Camron Gbadebo, Gene Kennedy, Frankie Terry, Freddie Price, Sam Cornish, Chay Cooper, Ryan Lowe, Samson Tovide, Donell Thomas and Marley Marshall-Miranda. Subs: Jaime Tedaldi, Ellis Sullivan, Bradley Chakawa, Bradley Ihionvien.

Hull City U23: Tom Macauley, Tom Nixon, Festus Arthur, Alfie Taylor, Harry Lovick, Oliver Green, Macauley Snelgrove, Harry Wood, Josh Hinds, Sincere Hall, Will Jarvis. Subs: Harry Fisk,

Louis Beckett, Harry Wallis, James Carr.