COLCHESTER United lost out in a penalty shoot-out after drawing with Spurs under-21s in their Leasing.com Trophy Group A clash tonight.

The game had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Tashan Oakley-Boothe's second-half strike cancelling out Luke Norris's opener for Colchester, in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The game went to a penalty shoot-out to decide who got the extra group point.

And after Brandon Comley's spot-kick went wide, the U's lost out 6-5 on penalties.

As expected, Colchester boss John McGreal used the game as an opportunity to rotate his squad, making eight changes to his starting line-up.

The only players that remained from the team that started against Stevenage at the weekend were Norris, Tom Eastman and Kwame Poku.

The likes of Dean Gerken, Luke Prosser, Frank Nouble and Cohen Bramall were all rested, while Ryan Jackson, Theo Robinson and Brandon Comley were among the substitutes.

In his programme notes for the game, McGreal had spoken about the togetherness that currently exists within the U’s squad.

And a fortnight on from Colchester’s memorable Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham, in which five of the U’s starting line-up for this Leasing.com Trophy game featured, the hosts set about achieving another triumph over the North London outfit.

But it was Spurs’ youngsters who enjoyed most of the possession in the first half and the visitors registered the first meaningful effort in the second minute, with Rodel Richards’ low shot pushed away to his right by keeper Ethan Ross.

Colchester had their first shot on goal seven minutes later when Jevani Brown curled a hopeful shot over from a difficult angle after being sent clear by Luke Norris's precise pass.

But Spurs looked lively on the attack and Richards’ deflected effort hit the side netting on the 20-minute mark for the visitors.

At the other end, Norris’s strike deflected wide for a corner but Ross was called upon to make a good block on the half hour, rushing out to deny Richards after Armando Shashoua’s pass had split the home defence.

But just when it looked as though the first half would finish goal-less, Colchester made the breakthrough just before the break.

Clampin did well to deliver a deep cross from the left which Norris headed towards goal and despite Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s best efforts to keep it out on the line, the ball sailed in to give the U’s a half-time advantage.

Chances were not forthcoming in the second half for either side, with little in the way of goalmouth activity.

However, the U's came close to doubling their lead on more on than one occasion when their deliveries flashes dangerously across the Spurs six-yard box, with no-one on hand to tuck them away.

Much like in the first half, Spurs' youngsters had plenty of the ball without really doing enough to put keeper Ross under too much pressure.

Brown's fierce effort flashed wide of the target from a tight angle with 19 minutes remaining, as Colchester pushed for a second.

But Spurs were back on level terms five minutes later when Oakley-Boothe's fierce effort from inside the area went in off Tom Eastman.

And the visitors almost took the lead second later when substitute Dilan Markanday's attempted cross bounced back off the crossbar, with Ross beaten.

Richards' low effort then flashed just wide after he had driven at the Colchester defence but Spurs almost snatched a winner in the 90th minute through substitute Kion Etete, who fired a low shot straight at Ross after good play by the impressive Armando Shashoua.

Deep into stoppage-time, Eastman missed a glorious chance to win it for the U's when he fired wide from close range after being found by Senior but the game went to spot-kicks, where Spurs eventually prevailed.

Colchester United: Ross, Wiredu (sub Jackson, 76), Eastman, Sowunmi, Clampin, Lapslie (sub Comley, 68), Chilvers, Senior, Brown, Poku (sub Robinson, 80), Norris.

Subs (not used): Kensdale, Dunne, Stevenson, Vose.

Spurs U21: De Bie, Eyoma, Binks, Fagan-Walcott, Hinds, Bowden (sub Patterson, 67), White, Tracy (sub Markanday, 76), Shashoua, Oakley-Boothe, Richards (sub Etete, 89).

Subs (not used): Clarke, Oluwayemi, Lyons-Foster, Pochettino.

Goals: Colchester United: Norris (44). Spurs U21: Oakley-Boothe (76).

Colchester United bookings: Norris (foul, 51).

Spurs U21 bookings: Fagan-Walcott (foul, 41).

Attendance: 1,061 (122 Spurs fans).

Referee: A Young.