COLCHESTER United under-18s lost 4-1 at home to Wigan Athletic in their latest Professional Development League match, writes BRIAN WALLER.

On a cool and windy morning at Florence Park, the U's suffered a heavy home defeat but it was a harsh scoreline, as the hosts were well in the contest throughout.

Wigan went close when Cole Simms dragged his shot wide of the far post, while team-mate Reece Greenhalgh sent his curled effort just over the bar.

The visitors did take the lead on the half hour when the ball was played in from the left and Simms finished well.

After a great tackle by Newby, poor Wigan defending nearly gifted the chance to James Sasere who went down in the box but no foul was given.

 

And soon after there were appeals at the other end when a Wigan player went down in the box close to Ronnie Harvey but nothing was given.

Colchester went in at the break behind but equalised on 53 minutes when a great ball out to the right to Rash Douglas who curled a left foot shot into the far corner.

Sasere fired just over the bar before Colchester fell behind again with 17 minutes remaining when Harrison Bettoni scored from the spot, after being fouled in the area.

Greenhalgh glanced a header wide for Wigan but made it 3-1 on 88 minutes when he won the ball on the edge of the box and moved on to score.

And five minutes into stoppage time, Oscar Harris sealed Wigan's win when he ran the ball into an empty net after blocking the U's trialist keeper's attempt to clear.

Colchester United: Trialist A, David, Fela Abidkun (sub Leo Makatta), Alfie Newby, Trialist B (sub Owen Moore), Rash Douglas, Kai Martin (sub Donte Frank), Ronnie Harvey, Lennox Emery, Daniel Banjako (sub Birak Sabah), James Sasere.