COLCHESTER United's under-21s played out a 2-2 draw with Professional Development League 2 leaders Charlton Athletic at Park Drive, writes BRIAN WALLER.
Both players finished the game with only ten men, while U's substitute James Sasere was stretchered off late on with a leg injury.
A quiet first half came to life in the final few minutes before half-time.
On ten minutes, Henry Rylah got past Joel Thompson but from his cross the ball was headed down into the ground by the centre-forward.
A good point for the U’s. #ColU 🔵2-2⚫️ Charlton pic.twitter.com/e5Pa6yJvFE
— Colchester United FC Academy (@ColU_Academy) November 1, 2024
There was a stoppage for a while after treatment for Trialist A who recovered after treatment.
When Bradley Tagoe got down the left, a back tracking Elkanah Akor caught and tackled him well.
After Trialists A and B linked to find Akor he was fouled and from Thompson's free-kick, the ball was initially cleared but the shot back by Trialist C was blocked.
Oilie Hobden getting forward saw his shot with a bit of a deflection saved by goalkeeper Harrison Chamberlain.
After the U's wasted a free-kick, Hobden got forward to find Rylah whose shot was blocked.
After a foul on Trialist B by the Addicks centre-back, once more the free-kick was wasted and Rylah combined with a team-mate whose shot was superbly blocked at his post by Chamberlain.
Thompson fed Trialist B who did well to lose his marker and find Trialist C who shot well over the bar.
Then Charlton went ahead on 42 minutes when Tagoe crossed from the left and right-back Ollie Hobden was in on goal and netted.
77 | GOAL. Alfie Newby scores following a free kick into the box from Joel Thompson. #ColU 🔵2-2⚫️ Charlton pic.twitter.com/3qaNZIkMdi
— Colchester United FC Academy (@ColU_Academy) November 1, 2024
But Colchester were level soon after as trialist A picked up the ball, beat two opponents and then sent a superb swerving shot into the net.
However, Charlton restored their lead, four minutes after the break.
A high hanging cross from the left saw the home keeper reach up to grab the ball but it then slipped out of his hands and became a simple tap in for Henry Rylah to score.
Chamberlain did well to tip a shot over the bar after that but the U's were reduced to ten men when Archie Oliver received a straight red card.
Rylah broke on the left and Oliver deliberately blocked him off, which the referee deemed as dangerous.
But Charlton were down to ten men when Kedwell received a second yellow and then a red for dissent.
And Colchester then drew level at 2-2 on 77 minutes when Thompson sent his free-kick into the box and it fell nicely for Alfie Newby to drive into the net.
Some great defending by Newby saw him get back to tackle Rylah and then a dangerous ball into the home goalmouth saw Chamberlain diving on it.
Sadly a crunching challenge on Sasere then saw him needing very lengthy treatment which resulted in him being carried off on a stretcher, with a leg injury.
Substitute Alex Kokoshi fired just wide for Colchester before the end, as they claimed a very good draw against the top-placed team.
Colchester United U21: Harrison Chamberlain, Elkanah Akor, Frankie Edwards, Alfie Newby, Joel Thompson, Trialists A, B and C, Kaleel Green, Archie Oliver, Ollie Godziemski. Subs: Trialist D, Alex Kokoshi, David Nkrumah, James Sasere, Fela Abidkun.
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