by BRIAN WALLER

UNDER-23

CRYSTAL PALACE 4

COLCHESTER UNITED 1

COLCHESTER went into their latest Professional Development League match still occupying bottom spot in the table, while three points for the hosts would see them go second in the table.

It was to be an encouraging first-half display by the U’s in a game just two days after their Saturday visit to Fulham in the Premier League Cup, where they lost 5-0.

However, a heavy storm at the interval arrived and despite battling well after the break, the home team’s two late goals did not reflect how well the young side played.

Colchester began the match brightly as Todd Miller got down the right but his cross was caught by home keeper Tupper.

A Chris Forino error so nearly proved costly as he tried to let the ball run out of play but he was robbed by Pierrick.

When he put the delivery across, TQ Addy fired wide of Callum Coulter’s right-hand post.

However, from the resulting goal-kick, the visitors then quickly got the ball forward and McKeown saw his shot saved by Tupper.

As the U’s kept on the offensive, the corner came in from the right but Billy Cracknell, in the goalmouth, put his shot over the bar.

In what was an action-packed first ten minutes, Flanagan’s free-kick from the left was held by Coulter.

A foul on Gene Kennedy saw Colchester engage in a lot of passing but finally the home team won the ball off them.

Just after the quarter-hour mark, the hosts took the lead.

A U’s move broke down on halfway and when the ball was threaded through the centre, Levi Lumeka evaded a couple of challenges to break into the box to put the chance away.

As Colchester tried to hit back, Sam Warde played a high ball into the box from the left but Ken Charles, on the back post, saw his header comfortably saved by Tupper.

A quick U’s free-kick nearly saw Palace caught as Tupper needed to save from McKeown.

Midway through the half, it was Kennedy and Warde linking up but once more the home keeper was called into action.

On 25 minutes, a Miller cross from the right saw Charles needing to stretch up high to reach this, but his header went over the bar.

Three minutes later, an Addy free-kick to Baptiste saw his shot blocked away for a left-wing corner.

This was taken short, but the delivery in by Flanagan went wide of the far post.

After good work on the left by Barnes and Kennedy, the ball was then switched out to the right but the delivery in by David Agboola was easily caught by Tupper.

In moving forward, Barnes then went down with what looked like a leg injury on 28 minutes and was replaced by Jake Hutchinson.

After a late challenge out on the left, it was a home free-kick but the ball in was scrambled clear.

Neat play by Colchester a minute later saw Miller’s shot on the turn force Tupper to make a save high up to his left.

After a strong Colchester challenge, Addy’s left-foot free-kick from just outside the box was sent over the bar and in a concerted attack by the away side, and a bit of a melee ensued in the home area, Colchester just could not manoeuvre themselves into a position for a shot and the ball was then scrambled clear.

Just before half-time, the visitors were deservedly back on terms.

This came after they broke up a home move and it looked to be Warde who sent the ball long for Eoin McKeown to chase and he held off the attention of a home defender to put the chance away.

Half-time arrived with the score now at 1-1 and the impending storm arrived as there was a concerted spell of heavy rain falling.

Conditions on the restart were not good and after a quiet opening few minutes, the hosts then took the lead with a fine goal.

Hungbo and Kian Flanagan combined on the left and after he played a one-two with Lumeka, he curled the shot into the net, just under the bar.

Soon after, Sam Cornish took a knock and a few minutes later he had to be replaced.

Just before that McGregor got into the box and Coulter was sharply out to make a tackle on him.

The home team were now dictating the match and as play was switched from left to right, home full-back Boateng took the ball well, after some good control.

His excellent strike on the hour-mark was hitting the bar and going over it.

Cornish was replaced by Ryan Clampin as Baptiste just could not quite get on the end of a pass.

Hungbo found Flanagan with a free-kick on the left and from his great strike in, Coulter did well to push away the shot which took a deflection on its way towards goal.

The following in player was then given offside.

At this stage, Colchester were still in the match as Charles set up the chance for McKeown, but his shot went just wide of Tupper’s right-hand post.

Palace then made a couple of changes and this saw the rain then finally stop and Coulter make a superb save high up to his left from Lumeka. Agboola delivered in a couple of throw ins, before with a quarter of an hour to go a quick U’s free-kick, and with a player spare, the wrong option was taken and the pass into the box was not made.

Clampin made an excellent burst down the left, but slipped over as he delivered the cross in, but this was behind the forwards.

Miller's in turn from the right was better, but Tupper held it well under his bar, under a strong challenge.

After a foul on Lumeka by the combined efforts of Agboola and Ctacknell, the home team then quickly scored a third goal to effectively seal the match.

This came from one of the subs who then got on the score charts as it was Rob Street who made it 3-1.

He was set up by Brandon Aveiro as the subs combined as the shot was poked home from close range.

To put an unfair complex on the run of the match as a whole, the hosts got a fourth goal with another excellent piece of play down the left.

This saw Lumeka link with Aveiro on the left with a one-two and from the former’s cross in, it was Street who slid in the fourth goal.

Teams – Crystal Palace: Tupper, Boateng, Hungbo, McGregor, Onoabhagbe, Mitchell, Addy, Flanagan, Baptiste, Pierrick and Lumeka with used subs: Street and Aviero an unused subs: Luthra, M.Boateng, and Chamberlin-Gayle.

Colchester United: Callum Coulter, David Agboola, Billy Cracknell, Chris Forino, Aaron Barnes, Sam Cornish, Gene Kennedy, Todd Miller, Sam Warde, Eoin McKeown and Ken Charles with used subs: Jake Hutchinson and Ryan Clampin and unused subs: Chandler Hallett and Lordon Akolbire.