COLCHESTER United's under-21s lost 4-0 to Crewe Alexandra at the Moonflake Stadium, writes BRIAN WALLER.

It was a heavy defeat for Matthew Etherington's side, in their latest Professional Development League Two match.

Colchester, who featured the likes of Chay Cooper, Jake Hutchinson and Gene Kennedy, made a bright start.

On three minutes, Kaan Bennett got the better of Nathan Robinson but the home player recovered to make a good block on his shot.

The U’s striker was in the action again, but home keeper Tom Booth denied him with a save.

As Alex came more into the match, there was some good play as Rhys Allport went down the left and gave the ball to the overlapping Charlie Finney who put the ball into the box, but this was well cleared.

 

Ronny Nelson was booked for a late challenge before the U’s were so close to scoring as Jake Hutchinson took the ball around the keeper but Lewis Nolan was back to clear off the line.

Gene Kennedy was down after a late challenge before he fouled an opponent as he took out Jack Parry but luckily avoided getting a card.

Soon after that, Alex took the lead on 21 minutes as they scored with a header from a free kick as Billy Sass-Davies put the chance into the corner of the net.

From the edge of the box, Calum Agius turned and shot but Ted Collins made the save.

Colchester fought back and on the half hour, the ball was scrambled to the edge of the box from a corner and Bennett drove the loose ball goalwards but Lewis Billington made a superb block.

Robinson was then booked for a late challenge before Bennett got in down the right but the home keeper tipped the attempt away for a corner.

After giving away a free-kick for a foul on Mohammed Jatta, Harry Beadle was booked for time wasting.

Crewe doubled their lead on 42 minutes.

After some good play Agius slid the ball across and he found Mohammed Jatta and he sent Collins the wrong way before scoring.

Despite creating several good chances, Colchester found themselves 2-0 behind at the interval.

Sadly things were not to improve after the interval, as after an error by Nelson, Allport’s pass to Robinson was a bit behind him.

Booth was down to save from Oscar Thorn before more good play by Alex saw Allport hold up the ball to find Jack Parry on the edge of the box but he mis-hit his shot well over the bar.

Chay Cooper tested keeper Booth, before the hosts went 3-0 ahead on 64 minutes, when Allport found Calium Agius to score.

This was soon added to two minutes later as Agius put in the cross and Jack Parry was on hand to scramble the ball home on the back post.

A triple U’s change saw Cooper, Kennedy and Beadle replaced by T’aizo Marcel Dilaver, Kaleel Green and Ryan Lowe.

Collins twice denied Moore and substitute Green's shot from distance flew just over the bar and despite a lot of U’s effort, it was a very heavy defeat.