SAMSON Tovide was on target as Colchester United lost 2-1 at Chelsea under-21s in their final pre-season friendly of the summer.

A U's team featuring a mixture of youth and senior players were beaten by a late goal at Cobham Training Ground, in their last warm-up game before the new League Two season gets underway on Saturday.

The likes of Tovide, Fiacre Kelleher, Manny Egbo, Alex Woodyard and Matt Jay all featured for the U's, alongside younger players such as Frankie Terry and new signing, Alfie Bendle.

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Chelsea under-21s went ahead with a deflected effort in the first half but Tovide equalised before half-time when he bullied his way beyond the home defence from a long ball forward and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

The home side hit the woodwork soon after but scored their winner with ten minutes remaining, following a weaving run and powerful finish beyond goalkeeper Tom Smith.

Colchester head coach Danny Cowley told CU-FC.COM: "It was a great test for us, a really good game.

"We had a young group with some senior players - I thought the senior players' attitude was excellent.

 

"I thought the young players did just great against some of the top young players in the world in the Chelsea team - they were incredible, with some of their technical ability.

"But great for our players and we're so appreciative of Chelsea for inviting us here and for our young players, what an inspiration - to come to a place like this and see what is possible for them.

"They've played tonight and they've gone toe to toe with a really good team.

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"It probably wasn't until 75 minutes when we get really, really young and take some of the senior players off that we end up conceding the second goal but there was a lot to like tonight."

Colchester United: Smith, Greenidge, Kelleher (Edwards 87’), Terry, Egbo (Trialist 77’), Bendle, Oni (Sandah 84’), Jay, Woodyard (Jolliffe 63’), Trialist (Green 77’), Tovide (Thorn 46’).

Subs: Chamberlain, Jolliffe, Edwards, Green, Thorn, Sandah, Trialist.