COLCHESTER United's under-21s were beaten 5-2 at home by Chelsea in their second Premier League Cup group game, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Ronny Nelson scored at both ends for Matthew Etherington's side, at the home of Maldon and Tiptree.

The U’s came into this after a good effort in the first group match, which they lost narrowly 3-2 at Leeds United.

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There was a good early block on eight minutes by Marley Marshall Miranda but the U's fell behind on 15 minutes when Nelson's wayward back pass went in for an own goal.

With about half an hour gone chances were rare, with the best for the visitors coming from Chelsea's Leo Castledine and Donell Thomas for Colchester.

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On 36 minutes there was a booking for Frankie Terry but just before half-time, substitute Tyrique George scored from the rebound for Chelsea, after the initial shot by Billy Gee was saved by Harrison Gee. 

The away side went close again due to the efforts of Ronnie Stutter and Samuel Rak-Sakyi in first-half stoppage-time, which prompted a superb save by the U’s keeper Chamberlain.

After half-time, the game changed in a matter of minutes when Colchester were awarded a penalty, as Zain Silcott-Duberry was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box.

But Max Merrick made a double save from Kaan Bennett's spot-kick.

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After Matt Yates was booked, there was a third Chelsea goal as George set up Jimmy Jay Morgan to make it 3-0, on 58 minutes.

Colchester pulled a goal back through Oscar Thorn, seven minutes later.

However, Chelsea restored their three-goal advantage with 13 minutes remaining through George, who netted from the follow up after Somtochukwu Boniface had been denied by keeper Harrison Chamberlain.

Into injury-time, the U’s got another goal back through Nelson but Chelsea sealed their win deep into stoppgae-time through Donnell McNeilly, after some excellent work by George.

Colchester United U21: Harrison Chamberlain, Matt Yates (sub Bayan Aman), Frankie Terry, Harry Beadle, Ronny Nelson, Marley Marshall Miranda, Milton Oni (sub Elkanah Akor), Archie Oliver (sub Kaleel Green), Kaan Bennett, Oscar Thorn, Donnell Thomas. Subs: Eliot Jenks, Ted Collins.