DANNY Cowley said it was a 'brilliant night' for Colchester United after they knocked League One outfit Reading out of the Carabao Cup on penalties.

The U's won 4-3 on spot-kicks, after the first-round tie at the JobServe Community Stadium had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Colchester had led through Tom Hopper's third-minute header and Jack Payne's second-half penalty.

But two goals in eight minutes in the second half from Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing got the Royals level, ensuring the tie went to spot-kicks.

READ MORE: Match report as Colchester beat Reading in Carabao Cup

Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey saved from both Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Amadou Mbengue and the hosts scored all four of their penalties, as they progressed from the shoot-out.

Cowley said: “It was a brilliant night for our football club.

“It was a really good performance – front foot, aggressive, we played with energy, intensity, played with a lot of enthusiasm.

“I thought we were excellent tonight and I think we had six under-21 year olds, on the pitch.

“We felt short-changed at half-time only to be 1-0 up, because we had such dominance in the game.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“I said at the end of the game that I knew we’d win the penalty shoot-out because we had the best goalkeeper and he made two great saves.

“But for the young players just to step up with the conviction that they did was a good way to round off an excellent night for us.

"I loved us tonight - I thought we played with a real purpose and intensity and it was great for the young players to come on."

Reading should have been reduced to ten men just before the half hour when Abraham Kanu brought Samson Tovide down when the young striker was galloping towards goal, with the defender shown a yellow card.

READ MORE: Colchester United v Reading - as it happened

Kanu fouled Tovide again minutes later and was very fortunate not to have been shown a second yellow card and was almost immediately taken off by Reading boss Ruben Selles and replaced by Tyler Bindon.

Cowley said: "The fact that they're already making a sub because they know they've got to get a defender on as they know it's a red card is the reality.

"Owura (Edwards) should have had a penalty when he was through and fouled and he doesn't give it and with the first booking, Owura is one on one - play on, we were through on goal!

"Then for the sending off, I've never seen a decision like that but let's not make that the narrative, because it should be about the players, who were excellent."