Colchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup at Accrington Stanley

Luckless U’s

THEY say you need a bit of luck in the FA Cup.

But Colchester United experienced little fortune at Accrington Stanley.

The loss of both defender Tom Eastman to an injury suffered with the tie less than a minute old and then goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin half an hour later at the Crown Ground was tough enough to take.

So the manner of Reds’ winning goal, which came via a deflection off U’s midfielder Harry Pell, was particularly galling.

Indeed, on another day, Colchester might have been awarded a penalty when Frank Nouble tumbled under goalkeeper Connor Ripley’s challenge in the area, rather than the striker being booked for simulation.

John McGreal’s side were always going to need one or two things to go their way, if they were to cause an upset against a side flying high in League One.

Sadly, that did not really happen for them.

FA Cup woe

COLCHESTER United’s first-round trip to Accrington Stanley was always going to be a tricky draw, to say the least.

They faced a buoyant League One side unbeaten at home since the first day of the season

But the difficulty level of the game – and the U’s spirited performance – probably did little to quell the U’s fans’ disappointment at seeing their side bow out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the third successive year.

Colchester gave it a good go at the Crown Ground, especially given the injury disruption they endured in the first half.

But despite the competence of the performance against a very well-drilled and talented side, it was nevertheless sad to make another early exit from the competition which this season offers handsome financial reward to winning teams.

Noah’s upward arc

HE did not get a chance to play any part in Colchester United’s first-round tie at Accrington Stanley.

But teenager Noah Chilvers will have gained considerably from the experience of being part of the U’s first-team squad that travelled to the Crown Ground.

Chilvers is yet another promising player rated highly by Colchester and the second-year apprentice has been impressing for Kevin Horlock’s under-23 side this season, after stepping up from the under-18s.

It’s been a great few days for the young midfielder, who last week was nominated for the LFE’s Goal of the Month award, following his stunning strike against Ipswich Town.

Positive vibes

ON a day where injuries were prominent, there was at least some good news for Colchester United on that front.

It appears as though the news on the U’s leading scorer Luke Norris is positive, following his meeting with the surgeon on Friday.

When Norris was stretchered off in agony against his old club Swindon Town last weekend, things did not look great.

But thankfully, the vibes from the club suggest that the striker’s ankle injury might not be as bad as first feared, which is great news all round.

Checkatrade tonic?

COLCHESTER United’s players do not have too long to dwell on their FA Cup exit at Accrington Stanley.

Another cup game awaits John McGreal’s side in a couple of days’ time, with a trip to play League Two rivals Cambridge United in Southern Group B of the Checkatrade Trophy.

It continues to be a much-maligned competition; many U’s supporters will no doubt stay away, still upset at the introduction of B teams from the Premier League and Championship.

Nevertheless, it still presents a route to Wembley for lower-league clubs and there is some financial reward for teams that progress.

The competition is not for everyone but beating Joe Dunne’s Cambridge would be a good way to prepare for a tough trip to fellow promotion contenders Newport County, next weekend.