Colchester United suffer fifth straight league defeat

Wil Randall struck Sutton's winner in the second minute of stoppage time to break U's hearts, after it looked like the visitors had earned a precious away point.

The U's had twice led through debutant Owura Edwards and Freddie Sears, only for Isaac Olaofe to twice cancel out their advantage.

However, Randall struck home from the edge of ther area to give Sutton victory and condemn Colchester to a fifth successive league defeat and keep them three points above the League Two drop zone.

Colchester boss Hayden Mullins made four changes to his starting line-up for the game at Sutton.

New signings Owura Edwards and Emyr Huws were handed their U’s debuts, while Tommy Smith and Luke Hannant were recalled.

Alan Judge, Cameron Coxe, and Corie Andrews dropped to the bench, while Junior Tchamadeu was not among the subs.

Colchester were looking to get off to a good start and they did just that when they took the lead in only the third minute.

Debutant Edwards let fly with a right-foot shot from 25 yards that beat the static Dean Bouzanis, after Brendan Wiredu had done well to win possession in midfield.

It was the first time Colchester have taken the lead in a league game since the 3-1 win over Exeter, last November.

And they almost made it 2-0 two minutes later when Freddie Sears was sent through on goal but was put off by a defender, after Luke Hannant’s pass had split the Sutton defence.

But Colchester’s lead did not last long.

Sutton levelled in the ninth minute through Isaac Olaofe, who followed up to equalise for the hosts after Omar Bugiel's effort had come back off a post from close range.

Colchester goalkeeper Jake Turner made a good save at full stretch to push away Bugiel’s effort, soon after and Sutton had the bulk of the first-half possession after that.

But Colchester regained their lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage-time.

Sears slotted home from the spot after the assistant referee had spotted a handball from Louis John in the area, after Sears had played the ball across goal.

It meant the U’s went in at the break ahead and Sutton went about trying to cancel out that lead in the opening minutes of the second half, with Rob Milsom's left-foot strike flashing just wide of the far post in the minutes that followed half-time.

But Colchester almost made it 3-1 on the hour when Sears pounced on a weak defensive header but can only hook a difficult first-time shot wide, with keeper Bouzanis out of his goal.

However, Sutton equalised in the 64th minute through Olaofe, who headed home at the far post after substitute Richie Bennett had nodded Enzio Boldewijn's delivery across the face of goal.

Sutton almost won it with five minutes to go when Bennett's low delivery squirmed out of Turner's grasp in the six-yard box and the lurking Ricky Korboa could not capitalise.

However, Randall picked up Alistair Smith's pass and rifled home a low shot past Turner from the edge of the area, to condemn the U's to defeat.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Turner, Welch-Hayes, Chambers, Smith (sub Eastman, 90), Dallison, Skuse, Huws, Wiredu, Hannant, Edwards (sub Nouble, 72), Sears.

Subs (not used): Coxe, Chilvers, Judge, Andrews, Gerken.

U’s man of the match: Brendan Wiredu.

Sutton United: Bouzanis, Goodliffe, John, Bugiel (sub Bennett, 63), Randall, Eastmond, Olaofe (sub Wilson, 75), Boldewijn (sub Korboa, 74), Kizzi, Milsom, Smith.

Subs (not used): Barden, Wyatt, Davis, Nelson.

Referee: Robert Lewis.

Bookings: Colchester: Dallison (foul, 21), Sears (unsporting behaviour, 59), Huws (foul, 75), Smith (foul, 77). Sutton: Smith (foul, 45), Eastmond (foul, 57).

Goals: Colchester: Edwards (3), Sears (45). Sutton: Olaofe (9, 64), Randall (90).

Attendance: 2,532 (282 U's fans).