Colchester United beat Cambridge United in EFL Trophy

First-half goals from Samson Tovide and Chay Cooper secured the U's a deserved victory at the Abbey Stadium, as a much-changed U's side bounced back from last weekend's 5-0 thrashing at Forest Green Rovers.

Gassan Ahadme gave the hosts brief hope in the fifth minute of stoppage tie when he scored from the spot after Jack Lankester's shot had been handled in the box by Frankie Terry but Colchester claimed victory.

It was a solid performance by Ben Garner's side, who chalked up their first win in this season's competition following their defeat to Spurs under-21s, in their opening group game.

And there was the added bonus for the U's of winger Owura Edwards playing for the final half hour, after recovering from injury.

Colchester made three changes to their starting line-up, with only three players – Mandela Egbo, Connor Hall and Jay Mingi - remaining from the team that started at Forest Green.

There were first starts of the season for the U’s for Cooper, Sam Hornby, Gene Kennedy and Terry, who made his first senior appearance for the club.

Colchester were looking to make a positive start, following the disappointment of last weekend’s thrashing at Forest Green.

And they did just that, looking bright and inventive in a 4-1-3-2 formation.

Colchester came close to taking a seventh-minute lead when Bradley Ihionvien mis-hit his first-time shot after Cambridge goalkeeper Will Mannion had raced out to the edge of his box to clear, following Arthur Read’s fine through pass.

But soon after, at the other end, Saikou Janneh's first-time shot from a tight angle flew dangerous across the six-yard box for the hosts and then Gassan Ahadme's header from a corner was blocked on the goal-line.

Hornby did well to save Lewis Simper's low, fierce effort down to his right as the hosts pressed but rather against the run of play, Colchester took a 17th-minute lead.

Tovide finished clinically from close range, after being picked out by Chay Cooper’s pass in the area.

Boosted by the goal, the U’s were dominant in possession after that and looked the more dangerous of the two sides, although Adam May did send a low free-kick straight into the arms of Hornby from the edge of the area for the hosts.

Colchester doubled their lead in the 43rd minute thanks to a fine individual goal by Cooper.

The former Spurs youngster robbed a dithering Liam Bennett of the ball just inside the hosts’ half before advancing towards goal and planting a shot decisively past Mannion.

It meant the visitors went in at the break in charge and they made a double change at half-time, with Zach Mitchell and Tom Hopper on for Connor Hall and Tovide.

Colchester almost extended their advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, with Read firing a shot inches over the bar, from the edge of the area.

The U's made a double change just after the hour mark, sending on Owura Edwards for his first appearance since joining the club on a permanent basis on transfer deadline day along with Tom Dallison.

It was a fairly comfortable second half for Colchester who were in control of the contest, although with ten minutes remaining, Cambridge substitute Jack Lankester did see a shot sail inches past the far post after running at the hosts' defence and Fejiri Okenabirhie's low shot was well saved by Hornby from close range, soon after.

Cambridge pulled a goal back in the fifth minute of time added on when Gassan Ahadme scored from the spot, after Terry had been adjudged to have handled Jack Lankester's shot in the area.

But it was too little, too late for the hosts, as Colchester claimed a deserved win.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Hornby, Greenidge, Terry, Hall (sub Mitchell, 46), Egbo (sub Dallison, 63), Kennedy, Read, Mingi, Cooper (sub Edwards, 63), Tovide (sub Hopper, 46), Ihionvien (sub Jay, 79).

Substitutes (not used): Nelson, Smith.

Cambridge United: Mannion, Bennett (sub Haunstrup, 60)  Okedina, Rossi, Janneh (sub McConnell, 61), May (sub Thomas, 73), Simper, Ahadme, Cousins (sub Lankester, 73), Gordon (sub Okenabirhie, 81), Jobe. 

Substitutes (not used): Holden, Yearn.

Goals: Colchester: Tovide (17), Cooper (43). Cambridge: Ahadme (90).

Bookings: Colchester: Tovide (foul, 45), Mingi (foul, 68). Cambridge: May (foul, 72).

Red card: None.

Referee: Jamie O’Connor.

Attendance: 991 (147 U's fans).