COLCHESTER United's under-18s were involved in a nine-goal thriller against Ipswich Town, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Liam Bailey's side lost 5-4 to their Suffolk neighbours, in their Professional Development League game.

Twice in the game Colchester led by two goals but ended up losing in added second-half injury-time.

The U's went close in the opening moments when Kai Redgrave’s effort struck the outside of a post.

But the hosts took the lead after three minutes when Kaan Bennett fired past the keeper after an attempted Town clearance had been charged down.

And Colchester doubled their lead six minutes later when Bennett netted, after Town centre-back Calum Logan had been caught in possession.

However, Ipswich pulled a goal back four minutes later through Jesse Nwabueze, who beat keeper Jaime Tedaldi inside his near post after getting in behind Bradley Chakawa.

And Nwabueze equalised after 19 minutes when he embarked on a very good run and found the far corner of the net.

The goals kept coming and Colchester restored their lead after 25 minutes.

Samson Tovide ran in on goal to score after another attempted clearance had been blocked.

Tedaldi saved well with his legs to deny Jack Manly soon after before the topsy-turvy first half continued with Colchester going 4-2 ahead, five minutes before the break.

Redgrave's fine cross saw Bradley Ihionvien arrive from the left to score.

However Town were then gifted a way back into the match again after a silly foul was given away.

Nwabueze's free-kick bounced up awkwardly at Tedaldi who pushed it away but as the ball rolled out to the right side of the U’s area, Redgrave was deemed by the referee to have pushed his opponent over.

Jack Manly converted the resultant penalty and a breathtaking first half ended with Colchester leading 4-3.

It was then 4-4 just before the hour mark when Chakawa’s back pass back to Tedaldi was closed down by Emmanuel Okunowo, who fired into an open net.

Ipswich were the dominant side now and Tedaldi denied Nwabueze, whose effort from the rebound was well blocked Andrew Palmer-Brown.

Bennett had a couple of efforts blocked as the clocked ticked down but just as the match looked to be heading for a draw, Ipswich grabbed a winner in the second minute of stoppage-time.

Ash Boatswain turned in from a corner to secure Ipswich's win.

U's U18: Jaime Tedaldi, Bradley Chakawa, Andrew Palmer-Brown, Frankie Terry, Kai Redgrave, Kacy Parish, Ryan Lowe, Isaac Evans, Kaan Bennett, Samson Tovide (sub Sean Brown), Bradley Ihionvien. Subs (not used): Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, Henby Shaw, Endurance Johnson.