JAMES Sasere scored twice as Colchester United's under-18s progressed to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, writes BRIAN WALLER.
Elliott Ward's youngsters beat Hackney Wick 4-2 at the JobServe Community Stadium, to go through.
Alfie Newby's effort went over for Colchester early on but the hosts went ahead, after 13 minutes.
Daniel Banjoko in the midfield found David Nkrumah down the right and from his cross to the centre, Sasere put the ball in the net.
The U's made it 2-0 on 33 minutes when Rashaad Drysdale came in from the right and beat Hackney keeper Obaid Mohammed, with a left-foot shot.
When Lennox Emery was brought down in the box, it looked to be a certain penalty but the referee waved play on.
However, Colchester were awarded a spot-kick just before half-time when Sasere was fouled in the box by the keeper and coolly converted, for 3-0.
📰 The full report from last night's 4-2 win in the FA Youth Cup, with the U18s comfortably in to the Second Round. @ColU_Academy | #ColU | #WeAreUnited
— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) October 30, 2024
Sasere, looking for a hat-trick went close early in the second half when he played a one-two with Emery from a corner but shot just wide, from the edge of the box.
From a long free-kick forward, U's goalkeeper Jack Sexton came and missed the ball but Fela Abidkun was on hand to deal with it.
Hackney Wick got back into the tie ten minutes after the break, when Giovanni Caselli got in down the left to score.
But the U's restored their three-goal advantage when Owen Moore netted, after fellow substitute Kai Martin had crossed from the left.
Things looked under control for the U's until a silly pass from the defence went straight to Caselli, who ran in to score with ease on 75 minutes.
Mohammed denied Moore who got in on goal while Colchester came very close to a fifth when Martin's free-kick smashed against a post and was scrambled clear.
Leo Makatta seemed to be getting clear near the end but great defending back by Lampard Sarpong denied the U's substitute a chance to seal victory with a fifth goal.
Colchester United U18: Jack Sexton, Elkanah Akor, Fela Abidkun, Alfie Newby, Donte Frank (sub Ryan Mombo), Rashaad Drysdale (sub Owen Moore), Ronnie Harvey, Lennox Emery (sub Kai Martin), Daniel Banjoko, David Nkrumah, James Sasere (sub Leo Makatta). Subs (not used): Alamin Kosoko, Burak Sabah, trialist.
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