JAY MINGI and Nico Lawrence made a welcome return to action as Colchester United's under-21s lost 4-1 at Chelsea under-21s in the Premier League Cup, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Mingi played the first 45 minutes to register his first competitive appearance since suffering a hamstring injury against Peterborough United, on November 21.

And on-loan Southampton defender Lawrence completed just over an hour in his first game since undergoing a shoulder operation, last November.

Lawrence has not played first-team football since injuring his ankle in the U's 3-0 win at Gillingham, last August.

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The likes of Will Greenidge, Owura Edwards and Al-Amin Kazeem also featured in a very strong looking U’s under-21 team in their fifth group game, at the Kingsmeadow ground in Surrey.

Colchester fell behind after four minutes when Frankie Runham netted after a poor pass out by goalkeeper Sam Hornby went straight to Reiss Russell-Denny who created the chance.

 

Chelsea dominated the early stages and it came as no surprise when they scored again through Michael Golding on 14 minutes, with Runham this time the provider, this time.

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It got worse for Colchester three minutes later when Zak Silcott-Duberry netted from the rebound, after Chibueze's effort was not held by Hornby.

Hornby denied Somto Boniface at the near post but it was not all Chelsea as on 27 minutes, the U’s saw two dangerous looking efforts blocked.

Hornby made another save on 34 minutes but after four more minutes, Greenidge's great run saw his shot deflected but fail to beat Chelsea keeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

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At the interval Gene Kennedy replaced Mingi and Hornby pushed away a shot, in the opening minutes of the second half.

Just after the hour mark, a good session of play saw Golding combining with Chibueze but there was an excellent defensive block.

Having not conceded for over an hour, Colchester fell 4-0 down in the 83rd minute due to a Frankie Edwards own goal after the ball unfortunately ricocheted off him into the net from a Silcott-Duberry cross.

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Colchester did grab a goal on 89 minutes through Bradley Ihionvien who lobbed the ball over stranded Chelsea goalkeeper Sharman-Lowe but it was only a consolation.

Colchester U21: Sam Hornby, Will Greenidge, Nico Lawrence (sub Frankie Edwards), Frankie Terry (sub Jet Dyer), Al Amin Kazeem, Owura Edwards (sub Archie Oliver), Jay Mingi (sub Gene Kennedy), Chay Cooper, Marley Marshall Miranda, Brad Ihionvien, Trialist, Sub (not used): Ted Collins.