COLCHESTER United's under-21s were beaten 4-1 at home by Burnley in their latest Professional Development League match, writes BRIAN WALLER.

For the second time in four days, the U’s were conceding four goals but that looked very unlikely for the first hour.

Everything had started so well for Matthew Etherington's side.

In the first minute, Kian Le Fondre broke strongly down the left outpacing Harry Beadle but keeper Sam Hornby was saving down by his right hand post.

However Colchester immediately took the lead after Kennedy Mupomba then robbed a defender and fed Kaan Bennett who drilled a low shot into the far corner of the net after two minutes.

In a good home move, goalkeeper Sam Hornby found Bennett who fed Jet Dyer to his left, but his cross was cut out at the expense of a corner.

From this, Burnley did well to head clear.

On 12 minutes Bennett took on and beat Dan Sassi to find Oscar Thorn to his right, but his well struck shot took a deflection and was easily held by the keeper.

Twelve minutes after that Lewis Richardson and Basilio Rieno Socoliche combined on the right and the cut back saw Bradley Grant curl his shot just over the bar.

The game then changed in a minute Thorn’s ball in saw Mupomba attempt an acrobatic effort which was saved by keeper Charlie Casper, play then switched straight to the other end and a cross from the right was turned in by Joe Westley after 29 minutes.

Bennett was then booked for impeding the visiting keeper.

Six minutes after half-time, Colchester then went very close again as Bennett found Thorn on the right his cross in was miscued by T’aizo Marcel Dilaver but ran onto Dyer whose thumping drive was saved by keeper Charlie Casper.

On 54 minutes a Thorn cross saw Bennett’s header hit the right hand post.

Jez Davies was then booked for a foul on Bennett.

On the hour there was a double change as Matt Yates and Ryan Lowe replaced Frankie Terry and Mupomba.

Soon after that out of the blue the Clarets led as a ball was switched out to the right and when played in, Lewis Richardson guided his shot into the net on 63 minutes.

Lowe set up Marcel Dilaver but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Bayan Aman was then on for Green for Colchester but things did not improve for the hosts.

Bradley Grant's ball forward found Richardson and his cross from the right was headed home on the back post by Joe Westley on 70 minutes.

After Solocliche’s effort was blocked, Le Fondre sent his attempt just too high. Lucas Wane was on for Richardson then it was Jack Rogers for Le Fondre.

Aman was booked for a foul on Rogers.

The resulting free-kick was taken short by Socoliche to Davies who hammered it goalwards although this was saved Lewis Wane put away the rebound after 83 minutes, as Colchester were beaten.

Colchester United U21: Sam Hornby, Harry Beadle, Ronny Nelson, Frankie Terry, Jet Dyer, Oscar Thorn, Gene Kennedy, T’aizo Marcel Dilaver, Kennedy Mupomba, Kaleel Green, Kaan Bennett. Subs (used): Matt Yates, Ryan Lowe and Byan Aman. Subs (not used): Jayden Peglar, Bailey Berry.

Burnley: Charlie Casper, Alex Healy-Byrne, Dan Sassi, Joe Ashton, Bradley Grant, Basilio Rieno Solcoliche, Jez Davies, Will Hugill, Joe Westley, Lewis Richardson and Kian Le Fondre with used subs: Lewis Wane and Jack Rogers and unused subs: Sam Waller, Callum West and Dylan Sime