A LATE goal from Kien Connolly helped Colchester United's under-21s run out 3-2 winners at Maldon and Tiptree in an entertaining friendly, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Connolly, who last month penned a one-year deal to be part of the U's under-21 squad in the Professional Development League, netted in the final minute to secure victory for his side, at Park Drive.

An early home chance on nine minutes saw Kabongolo get down the right and from his cross Norman Wabo saw his effort saved by Jack Sexton.

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The U’s defence then had to make a couple of telling tackles in their box before the visitors broke and after some neat build up play, the Maldon trialist keeper saved well.

After Wabo went down injured, he was replaced by Ross Wall.

A ball out to the right saw the shot flashed wide.

Then a pass from the left saw the ball nodded down but this was volleyed wide.

After a deluge of rain, at this point a lot of the very young Colchester players went off and on came Harrison Chamberlain, Rashaad Douglas, Max Jolliffe, Kaleel Green and Hakeem Sandah.

(Image: NEWSQUEST)

Then a U's striker broke into the box and shot just wide of the left hand post.

For the hosts, a cross from the right was met by a volley which went wide.

However after the home team lost the ball, the away striker Kaleel Green was away and after some good build up play, he lifted his shot over the home keeper on 35 minutes.

Before the break, Maldon were twice denied by good saves.

A header fell also to the edge of the box and was fired back in and ricocheted away off Frankie Edwards.

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After the interval the scores were soon level on 52 minutes as the ball was partially cleared and the shot back in by Gordon went in off the keeper's right hand post.

But five minutes later, after a surging run forward by Jolliffe he was fouled and from the resulting free-kick, Milton Oni superbly found the net.

A nasty collision saw Oni and Jolliffe run into one another before there was a very good tip over by the keeper.

However Maldon did make it 2-2 after Ross Wall netted, as he went to ground with a deflection on 74 minutes.

Oilie Godziemski returned after a U's team-mate went off with what looked like cramp and there was a superb run towards goal by Sandah before he was tackled.

Just when it looked like ending in a draw, the visitors scored a winner.

Sandah's assist found Connolly who on the turn found the far corner of the net, on 89 minutes.

There was one more chance as after a foul Oni floated the ball into the box where the shot was blocked, as the U's youngsters claimed victory.