JAKE Hutchinson scored four times for Colchester United's under-18s but still ended up on the losing side, writes BRIAN WALLER.

The U's lost 6-5 at Wigan Athletic in their latest Professional Development League Two match.

The U’s never give up despite the adversity of always being goals behind but still came away empty-handed, following a high-scoring affair.

Colchester fell behind after just three minutes.

Despite a good save by Ted Collins down to his left from Mackenzie O’Neill, the Colchester keeper failed to deal with the resulting corner, punching the ball out to Tom Costello who lifted a shot into the net.

However the U's went close to scoring when a Donnel Thomas shot from a fair way out hit the bar, before the Latics went 2-0 ahead after 19 minutes.

This saw some impressive play by O’Neill who created the chance for Sean McGurk to score as he slipped the ball past the advancing Collins.

It was probably against the run of the match when Hutchinson got his side back into the match seven minutes later.

But five minutes after that, Wigan stretched their advantage again when Baba Adeeko's effort on the half hour beat Collins to find the target.

And soon after, some fine play by Alfie Devine set up Costello to make it 4-1 five minutes later as he glanced the ball into the net.

There was some dispute over the next Colchester goal that arrived four minutes before half-time, as Diogo Freitas-Gouveia scored despite large home shouts for offside.

As the goals kept coming at the Christopher Park ground, the home team got a fifth right on half-time from McGurk.

But if Wigan thought it was game over, they were to be shocked by the U’s who rallied well to the end.

Hutchinson scored his second of the game just after the hour mark when he rounded home keeper Sam Tickle before putting the chance away.

Wigan made it 6-3 as the U’s defended poorly and allowed Thelo Aasgaard to round Collins before scoring with seven minutes remaining.

Two late penalties by Hutchinson stirred a few late nerves for the Latics, who they held on for a narrow win.

U's under-18s: Collins, Sayer, Kennedy, Terry, Kazeem, Kane, Freitas-Gouveia, Cornish, Hutchinson, Thomas, trialist. Subs: Marshall-Miranda, Stagg, trialist.