Colchester United under-18s lose out at Cardiff City

Tom Stagg was denied by keeper Jake Dennis after six minutes while Samson Tovide drove his effort wide under pressure when well placed in the box, as the U's started well.

Dennis then saved Donell Thomas' well struck attempt before Cardiff centre-back Taylor nodded just wide on 26 minutes.

Colchester keeper Endurance Johnson made a very good save from another Taylor header and Kyle Kenniford sent a rising shot just over the bar, before the U's fell behind on the half hour when Ntazana Mayembe found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Johnson made an acrobatic save from James Crole's header before half-time, as Cardiff went in ahead at the break having dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half.

Frazer Thomas was denied by another Johnson save before Cardiff doubled their lead just after the midway point in the second half, as James Crole nodded in substitute Aidan MacNamara's cross.

City scored a third with eight minutes remaining through substitute Rhys Schwank raced away and into the box, before finding the far corner of the net.

Ryan Kavanagh made it 4-0 four minutes later when he scored from the spot, after Schwank was fouled in the box.

And was still time for Cardiff to score a fifth goal as Taylor Jones powered his header in from a Kavanagh corner, in time added on.

After starting the match so well, it ended up as another heavy for Colchester down in South Wales.

Colchester United U18: Endurance Johnson, Matthew Yates (sub Bayan Aman), Lordan Akolbire, Gene Kennedy, Namory Kane, trialist, Kacy Parish (sub trialist), Ryan Lowe, Tom Stagg, Donell Thomas, Samson Tovide (sub Darnell Asare-Williams).

Cardiff City: Jake Dennis, Ethan Vaughan (sub Aidan MacNamara), Taylor Jones, John Rippon (sub Jac Clay), Eli King, Frazer Thomas, Kyle Kenniford, James Crole, Ryan Kavanagh, Ntazana Mayembe (sub Rhys Schwank). Sub (not used): Matthew Coley.