COLCHESTER United under-18s lost 2-1 at home to Hull City in the Professional Development League, writes BRIAN WALLER.

On a warm and sunny morning at Florence Park, it was another good display by the team who just did not have any luck in front of goal.

They did not have the best of starts as from a pass out to the left, Stan Hewitt put Hull ahead after two minutes.

Burak Sabah knocked the ball goalwards but a defender was able to clear from near the goal-line.

When Rash Douglas crossed from the right, his ball was cut out and it ran out to Sabah whose shot was blocked.

When Josh Ocaya then got in down the left, keeper Jack Sexton blocked with his legs.

Sabah then put in James Sasere, but the keeper saved well to his left.

However Hull scored a second goal on 26 minutes when Zac Jagielka got in ahead of the U's right-back before driving a powerful shot into the net.

Sasere onto a long pass forward, rounded the keeper but then shot just wide before Fela Abidkun was booked for a foul but the resulting free-kick was just wide of the near post.

On 52 minutes, an excellent free-kick saw the keeper push Martin’s attempt around the post.

Then after Martin was then knocked off the ball, Aidon Shehu fired over.

Colchester got back in it midway through the second half when Sasere was fed by a pass and shot low to the keeper's left.

But Hull almost restored their lead when Sabah fed Moore who cut inside and unleashed a powerful drive which keeper Jack Sexton did well to push away at his near post.

A well-placed Josh Ocaya shot over for Hull, for whom substitute Reuben Silk-Topley got in down the right but fired wide. But a one-goal margin proved enough for the visitors to claim victory.

Colchester United U18: United: Jack Sexton, David, Caiden Lewis, Fela Abidkun, Trialist (sub Leo Makatta), Rash Douglas, Burak Sabah, Ronnie Harvey, Kai Martin (sub Alamin Kosoko), James Sasere, Lennox Emery (sub Owen Moore).