George Brown bagged a late winner as Colchester United’s under-23s beat their Watford counterparts 4-3 in a thrilling contest.

The U’s, who featured the likes of Macauley Bonne, Glen Kamara and Frankie Kent, won an entertaining Professional Development League Two contest at the Hornets’ UCL training ground.

Watford’s under-23 side, managed by former Liverpool and Australia attacker Harry Kewell, featured six first-team players including goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, Christian Kabasele, Adrian Mariappa, Ben Watson, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jerome Sinclair and were watched by Hornets head coach Walter Mazzarri.

After a quiet start to the contest, Sinclair went close to opening the scoring for Watford from the edge of the area with a shot that flew over.

And after Kamara had also gone close, as Sinclair was in the thick of the action again when he forced Colchester keeper James Bransgrove to save his curling effort.

Colchester fell behind midway through the first half through Connor Stevens, who volleyed in from close-range after Kabasele had picked him out with a header.

And the U’s fell further behind when their captain Carl Stewart fired past Bransgrove from close range, after Sinclair had knocked down Michael Folivi’s cross.

However, Colchester pulled a goal back six minutes later through Bonne who scored from the spot after being fouled by Mariappa in the area.

The U’s went in trailing at half-time and Bransgrove denied Sinclair in the opening stages of the second half, before Watson went close with a free-kick for the hosts.

However, Colchester were back on level terms just before the hour through Dunne, whose accurate first-time finish was too good for former Sunderland keeper Pantilimon.

The goals kept coming though.

Watford made it 3-2 eight minutes later when Folivi’s attempt hit the post and went in off Bransgrove, following substitute Ogo Obi’s cross.

However, the U’s refused to lie down and got back on level terms with 18 minutes remaining through Kent who nodded home from substitute Charley Edge’s set-piece.

And Colchester bagged their winner in a topsy-turvy encounter three minutes later through Brown, who finished well after Kent had helped on Edge’s corner.

Obi had an effort ruled out for Watford before the end, as Colchester claimed a thrilling victory.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Bransgrove, Ocran, James, Wright, Peter, Kent, Brown, Kamara, Regis, Sembie-Ferris, Bonne.

Substitutes: Dunne, Sheriff, Edge, O’Donoghue, Williams.