Colchester United beat Reading in Carabao Cup first round

Macey saved from both Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Amadou Mbengue as the U’s won the shoot-out, after the first-round tie had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

It was a notable scalp for Colchester, who had led through Tom Hopper's third-minute header and Jack Payne's second-half penalty.

But for the second successive game, they relinquished a two-goal lead, after two goals in eight minutes from Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing got the Royals level, ensuring the tie went to spot-kicks.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley made five changes to his starting line-up from the defeat at AFC Wimbledon at the weekend.

Summer signings Teddy Bishop and Alex Woodyard were handed their first starts for the club with Fiacre Kelleher, Mandela Egbo and Owura Edwards also included, while Ellis Iandolo took the captain’s armband.

Arthur Read, Bradley Ihionvien and JK Gordon dropped to the bench, with Tom Flanagan and the injured Ben Goodliffe missing out.

Colchester had made a rapid start to their opener at AFC Wimbledon at the weekend, scoring after 54 seconds.

And they made a similarly impressive start in this contest, starting with purpose and tempo.

After a period of pressure, Colchester took a third-minute lead through Hopper, who headed home from another pinpoint Payne delivery, from a corner.

Seemingly not content with just one goal, Colchester went in search of more.

They felt they should have had a penalty in the fifth minute when Edwards tumbled under Emmanuel Osho’s challenge of Osho in the box but referee Neil Hair waved away the claims.

Much of the early stages were played out in the Reading half and Edwards went close when he made space for himself on the edge of the Reading box before unleashing a shot which went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke.

There was an unexpected stoppage in play in the 19th minute when the sprinklers came on but once play resumed, Colchester continued to look in control.

U’s boss Cowley felt Reading should have been reduced to ten men just before the half hour when Abraham Kanu brought Samson Tovide down when the young striker was galloping towards goal, with the defender shown a yellow card.

Kanu fouled Tovide again minutes later and was very fortunate not to have been shown a second yellow card, so much so that he was almost immediately taken off by Reading boss Ruben Selles and replaced by Tyler Bindon.

It was almost 2-0 when Egbo headed over from Edwards' lofted ball into his path in the area and Colchester deservedly went in at the break ahead.

The U's made a double change at the break, sending on Read and Ihionvien for Bishop and Tovide.

And they doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Payne scored from the spot, after Kelvin Abrefa had fouled Edwards in the area.

Reading had hardly threatened but they got back into the tie in the 65th minute through a wonder goal scored by Savage, who let fly from 25 yards with a spectacular strike that flew past Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey and in.

And the Royals were level eight minutes later when Wing scored direct from a 20-yard free-kick.

Reading had the momentum after that and looked the more likely side to score a winner but the tie went to penalties and Colchester scored all of their spot-kicks to prevail, thanks to Macey's heroics.

MATCH STATS: Colchester United: Macey, Hunt, Kelleher, Egbo, Iandolo (sub Terry, 62), Woodyard, Bishop (sub Read, 46), Payne (sub Oni, 78), Hopper (sub Gordon, 62), Edwards, Tovide (sub Ihionvien, 46).

Substitutes: Greenidge, Thorn, Bendle, Smith.

Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Abrefa (sub Mbengue, 75), Dean, Knibbs, Savage, Wareham, Wing, Garcia, Kanu (sub Bindon, 34), Akande (sub Ehibhatiomhan, 46), Osho (sub Camara, 46).

Substitutes: Pereira, Elliott, Tuma, Ahmed, Sackey.

Referee: Neil Hair.

Goals: Colchester: Hopper (3), Payne (56). Reading: Savage (65), Wing (73).

Bookings: Colchester: Ihionvien (unsporting behaviour, 90). Reading: Kanu (foul, 28), Savage (foul, 45).

Attendance: 3,123 (639 Reading fans).