Colchester United beat Hashtag in BBC Essex Senior Cup

Ihionvien scored either side of half-time and Conor Wilkinson also netted as the U's progressed in front of a crowd of 930 at the JobServe Community Stadium after overcoming the setback of conceding Harry Haysom's second-minute goal, against their Pitching In Isthmian League Premier visitors.

And although substitute Micha Djemali's 90th-minute strike gave Hashtag late hope, Colchester held out to seal a place against either Maldon and Tiptree or Redbridge in the final.

Colchester fielded a host of first-team players in their starting line-up, with the likes of Conor Wilkinson, Matt Jay and Jay Mingi all starting.

But the U’s suffered a shock when they fell behind inside the opening two minutes.

Defender Harry Haysom followed up to score from a yard out to give Hashtag the lead, after Colchester goalkeeper Sam Hornby had palmed a goalbound header up into the air following Sakariya Hassan's free-kick into the U's box.

It was just what the U’s did not need but to their credit, they responded well to the setback and began to put pressure on the visitors’ goal.

Ihionvien's low effort from the edge of the area was well saved by keeper Josh Strizovic, who did well to gather the rebound from under the nose of the lurking Jay.

Hashtag remained a threat on the break and Jermaine Anderson found room in the area before shooting straight at Hornby.

Colchester had the ball in the net in the 19th minute when Ihionvien tapped in the rebound following Strizovic's save from Jay.

But rather belatedly, the assistant referee raised his flag and the effort was rightly chalked off.

Colchester did get back on level terms in the 26th minute though.

Ihionvien stuck out a leg to prod home Jay's inswinging free-kick into the six-yard box to equalise.

The U’s pressed for a second goal before half-time and Ihionvien fired a low shot just wide of the far post, after being put through on goal by Mingi's incisive pass.

But Hashtag almost regained their lead just before the break when Tom Anderson's first-time effort from close range sailed straight into the arms of Hornby, after former Colchester youngster Cornish had delivered a free-kick into the U's box.

The sides went in level at the break but the U's took control of the game with two goals in the space of three minutes, at the start of the second half.

Wilkinson bundled Colchester ahead when fired past the on-rushing Strizovic, after his forward run had been picked out by Bailey Berry's pass.

And soon after, Ihionvien claimed his second goal of the game when he kept his composure to shoot past Strizovic, having been found by Oscar Thorn in the area.

It gave the U's some breathing space and the introduction of former Colchester favourite Greg Halford as a substitute for Hashtag midway through the second half brought warm applause, from the U's fans.

Hashtag almost pulled a goal back with 18 minutes remaining when Hornby makes a good low save to deny Camilo Restrepo, who had latched onto Pedro Carvalho's pass in the U's area and tried his luck.

Substitute Micha Djemali's header flew straight at Hornby as the clock ticked down and when Djemali netted on the rebound after fellow substitute Alex Teniola's shot had been parried by Hornby, it set up a grandstand finish.

But despite more than seven minutes being added on at the end, the U's held out to claim victory.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Hornby, Berry (sub Akor, 66), Edwards, Dallison, Miranda, Mingi (sub Lowe, 66), Sandah, Jay (sub Oliver, 79), Thorn, Wilkinson (sub Mupomba, 79), Ihionvien. Subs: Collins.

Hashtag United: Strizovic, T Anderson (sub Halford, 68), J Anderson, Haysom, Smith, Cornhill (sub Kiangebeni, 55), Cornish, Restrepo (sub Wooldridge, 73), Carvalho, May-Parrott (sub Teniola, 80), Hassan (sub Djeemali, 80).

Referee: Aaron Farmer.

Goals: Colchester: Ihionvien (26, 54), Wilkinson (51). Hashtag: Haysom (2), Djemali (90).