Cambridge United’s final pre-season encounter saw them lose heavily on the road as an experienced Colchester United side swept aside a young U’s team by the score of 6-0..
A dominant Colchester display in the first 45 did the damage as United went into the break behind by five goals. The U’s improved in the second half and only conceded once more, as vital minutes were obtained by the squad with the season opener taking place in a weeks’ time.
A starting XI of Stevens, Bennett, Digby, Ewens Findlay, Mckoy, Barton, Holmes, McConnell, Kaunda, Munday and Njoku was named by Garry Monk, as he played eight Academy players/graduates for the second game of the weekend, following yesterday’s 1-0 win over West Brom.
It didn’t take long for Colchester to hit the U’s with an early setback - Brad Ihionvein opened the scoring for the hosts after meeting Jack Payne’s free-kick to send the ball past Stevens in the U’s goal.
Colchester doubled their lead five minutes later through another Ihiovein header, and the first half carried on the way it started as the U’s were up against it once again.
Iandolo made it three with an unstoppable first-time volley which nestled into the top corner, and Jack Payne added a fourth on the half-hour mark, with a low guided effort into the far corner from outside the box. The fifth came just before half time, another header from Tom Hopper.
United came out far more improved defensively, but still without any conviction in their attack as they struggled to test the Colchester back line. A first shot on target came in the 63rd minute, when Kaunda found space inside the box, but his shot wasn’t enough to trouble Macey in the Colchester goal.
The rest of the half remained steady with neither side able to break through with consistency, although Colchester did manage to add one more with minutes remaining, as Tovide poked home from the left with an outstretched leg.
Although a difficult game, it was a great physical test for United’s young players as attention now firmly switches to next Saturday and the beginning of the Sky Bet League One season.
