Our under-21s were eliminated from the Bristol Street Motors Trophy with a 3-0 defeat away to Colchester United’s first team on Tuesday night.
WHAT HAPPENED
Harry Anderson was first to get a shot away for the hosts, cutting across it and firing high and wide, before Oscar Thorn worked his way into the penalty area and provided a simple-tap in for Tom Hopper.
Our first foray forward saw a Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand free-kick from the right wing cleared away, ahead of a Colchester free-kick coming out to Arthur Read, who thumped it back towards goal, but Salah-Eddine blocked it wide.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji carried the ball towards the edge of the area but his shot was deflected into the gloves of Tom Smith, and we then gave the ball away to Thorn, who went for goal, but Brian Okonkwo was equal to it.
We had a chance to pull one back with five minutes of the first half remaining, Ismeal Kabia feeding Jimi Gower on the right, the latter’s cross hit first time on the volley by Butler-Oyedeji but blocked well by Aaron Donnelly.
In the 43rd minute, Colchester doubled their lead. Anderson found space in the box and lashed a shot across goal and into the bottom left corner.
Mehmet Ali made one change at the break, replacing Zane Monlouis with Josh Robinson.
But it didn’t take long for Colchester to make it 3-0, Mandela Egbo winning the ball high up the pitch and skewing it into the far corner with the outside of his right foot.
We made further changes, Michal Rosiak coming on for Ismail Oulad M’Hand and Harrison Dudziak then replacing Gower.
Colchester had a couple of free-kicks in the final ten minutes of the game, Jack Payne blasting over the crossbar and Read shooting straight at Okonkwo.
Ayden Heaven headed on target from a free-kick in the dying embers, but it was straight at Smith as well fell to a 3-0 defeat.
WHAT IT MEANS
After Leyton Orient beat MK Dons 2-1, we finished third in Group M of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, knocking us out of the competition.
WHAT’S NEXT
Our under-21s are back in Premier League 2 action at Meadow Park at home to Brighton & Hove Albion at 2pm on Sunday, December 1. Until then, members of the squad will be involved in our under-19s’ UEFA Youth League game away to Sporting Lisbon at 1pm on Tuesday, November 26.
LINE-UPS
Colchester United XI: Smith, Iandolo (Flanagan 46), Goodliffe, Anderson (Sandah 63), Payne (Godziemski 81), Hopper, McDonnell (Woodyard 63), Read, Egbo (Drysdale 81), Donnelly, Thorn.
Substitutes (not used): Chamberlain, Taylor
Arsenal XI: Okonkwo, Nichols, Monlouis (Robinson 46) (C), Heaven, Quesada-Thorn, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Gower (Dudziak 63), Ismail Oulad M’Hand (Rosiak 57), Kabia, Edwards, Butler-Oyedeji
Substitutes (not used): Ranson, Kamara, Forde, Sweet
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