Colchester United's under-21s start new season in style with big win over Wigan

Yahoo

6 days ago

COLCHESTER United under-21s started the new Professional Development League season in style after thrashing Wigan Athletic 4-1 at the JobServe Community Stadium, writes BRIAN WALLER.
A superb first-half display seemed to put the U's well in control of their first league match of the campaign.
However, things could have been so different as in the first minute, a telling cross from the left for Wigan was met by a volley from Reece Greenhalgh which went just wide.
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After some good defending by Kuari Mushani who held off his opponent, the U's then took the lead after eight minutes.
A storming run down the right by David Nkrumah resulted in his cross being turned home at the near post by Kien Connolly.
It got even better five minutes later as Kai Martin's superb cross-field pass found Kaion Lisbie who rifled his shot into the net.
Now Colchester were dominating as Martin's cross flew across the box, then neat build up by the away side ended with a shot by Harrison Rimmer being saved.
Lisbie and Martin fed Nkrumah who cut along the byline but his cross was blocked.
A loose ball then ran out to Greenhalgh who shot just wide of the right hand hand post.
Max Jolliffe linked with Connolly but the effort was blocked with Martin driving the rebound wide.
Martin then made it 3-0 on 27 minutes, following a superb free-kick that beat the keeper to his right.
Cole Simms' overhead kick went wide for Wigan, who got back in the game on 53 minutes.
(Image: CU-FC.COM)
A rare error by Harrison Chamberlain saw him lose the ball after he seemingly caught it and Simms capitalised, after the home keeper's attempt to throw out hit his opponent.
Wigan went close to a second when Rimmer's flick at the near post from a corner went just wide while at the other end, Martin's superbly-taken free-kick was well saved by Matthew Corran to his left.
Building from a Wigan attack, a ball found U's trialist C on the right but Connolly failed to get real power and direction on his header while soon after, Martin fed in Connolly but the keeper saved well to his left.
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Chamberlain blocked an effort with his legs before Colchester sealed victory on 87 minutes when a midfield pass found the run of Makise Evans, who moved on to score.
There was still time for Chamberlain to save Harrison Bettini's snap shot but Colchester were deserved winners.
Colchester United U21: Harrison Chamberlain, David Nkrumah, Alfie Newby, Trialist A, Kuari Musanhi, Ryan Mombo (sub Trialist C, 70), Kai Martin, Max Jolliffe, Makise Evans, Kien Connolly, (sub Josh Adesanya, 90), Kaion Lisbie (sub Caiden Lewis, 80). Subs (not used): Dre Henry, trialist B.