COLCHESTER United's under-21s lost 2-1 at home to Leeds United in the Premier League Cup at Maldon and Tiptree FC, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Liam Bailey's side went into the contest needing a win in their fourth group game and took the lead through Bradley Ihionvien.

But the game turned following the 74th-minute sending off of centre-back Ronny Nelson, as the U's hopes of progressing in the competition were ended.

There were chances at both ends early on, with Ihionvien's shot blocked by a defender after a smart save and U's keeper Ted Collins saving from Luca Thomas.

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Ihionvien was booked for protesting after falling victim to another nasty foul but amazingly, the perpetrators were not cautioned.

The first was a really nasty hack and painful kick on his leg, so it just had to be a yellow card but it was not.

Colchester went close to scoring just after the half hour when Marley Marshall Miranda's deflected effort went just wide of a post, after Donell Thomas’ corner was cleared to just outside the box.

Oscar Thorn's effort was then pushed around the post by Leeds keeper Danny Van Den Heuvel while at the other end, his Colchester counterpart Collins superbly denied Sean McGurk.

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After the visitors went close again, two players linked once more and Frankie Terry cleared from the goalmouth.

Colchester went ahead just before half-time when Marshall Miranda played in Ihionvien down the left and he drove his shot past Van Den Heuvel.

There was still time for Collins to save again as Cian Coleman fed in Charlie Allen but Terry was on hand to clear the loose ball.

Leeds twice went close after half-time but the U's still had their chances and from a Thomas ball in from the left Ihionvien slid in, but Van Den Heuvel saved at his near post.

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Then Marshall Miranda's fine low strike was superbly saved by the Leeds keeper and a corner was won, from which Beadle’s back post header was held by the keeper.

Collins made a good low save to foil Joe Snowdon before the major turning point when Nelson was dismissed for a poor challenge on Leeds left-back, Connor Ferguson.

And from McGurk's resulting free-kick from the left, centre back Diogo Monteiro got ahead of his marker to slide the ball into the net.

Ten-man Colchester were forced to defend and Collins made two excellent saves from Allen and Luca Thomas.

Collins then did well to save Allen's shot that came through a crowd of players but Leeds' late pressure eventually told, in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

An attack down the right saw Allen's cross fall nicely for Joe Snowdon drive a shot into the net, to condemn Colchester to defeat.

Colchester under-21s: Collins, Beadle (sub Berry, 89), Terry, Nelson, Dyer, Thorn, Trialist, Marshall Miranda, Ihionvien (sub Green, 60), Thomas, Bennett. Subs (not used): Mupomba, Akor, Chamberlain.