...but improved display by younger group.
The U's U21s showed sign of progression on Tuesday night, despite falling to a 3-1 defeat against Needham Market.
The younger U's were left disappointed by a 4-1 reverse at Witham seven days earlier, but this was a better display from Richard Hall's boys as they got another ninety minutes under their belt.
Sam Newson was the home side's hero, though, as he grabbed all three goals in the victory for the Ryman League side.
In between his first two goals, the U's were on top and created some fine chances with Wright and Olufemi in the thick of it down either side of the pitch.
But, like the game at Witham, the U's were a goal behind in the first five minutes.
A ball over the top saw Newson find his way behind the back four and, as Phillips came out to engage him, the striker slotted the ball in off the far side netting.
There then followed a host of U's chances in the remainder of the first half.
Tosin Olufemi drove a shot straight at the keeper, then Jackson Ramm struck in a fierce effort that was parried before it was taken off Olufemi's toes.
On 26 minutes, the returning Jordan Sanderson dragged a shot wide of goal, before he then had the ball passed to him at the edge of the box by Ramm.
The U's youngster stepped onto it before placing a shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
Trailing by a goal at the break, the U's came close to an equaliser six minutes after the interval.
Wright came out of midfield to move across the Needham defence, but his shot clipped off a defender on the way through and thudded off the crossbar, with the keeper left flat-footed.
That moment of misfortune proved crucial as Needham won a penalty on 56 minutes - their third spot kick of pre-season and Newson sent Phillips the wrong way.
Ten minutes later and the U's were back in the game, with arguably the best goal of the match.
Olufemi followed Wright's lead in stepping in off the wing and he curled a sumptuous effort beyond the keeper and into the top corner of the net.
Jackson Ramm was substituted on 70 minutes after the referee requested that he was taken off following a heavy challenge, although it was not dissimilar to a challenge at the other end not long before.
The U's could have pulled another one back as Ladapo headed over from a great Olufemi cross.
But it finished 3-1 to the home team on what was one of the best playing surfaces of pre-season.
U's: Phillips, Ramm (Simmons 70), Bender, Roast, Okimo, Hamilton (Mafuta 76), Sanderson, James-Lewis, Wright, Ladapo, Olufemi
The younger U's were left disappointed by a 4-1 reverse at Witham seven days earlier, but this was a better display from Richard Hall's boys as they got another ninety minutes under their belt.
Sam Newson was the home side's hero, though, as he grabbed all three goals in the victory for the Ryman League side.
In between his first two goals, the U's were on top and created some fine chances with Wright and Olufemi in the thick of it down either side of the pitch.
But, like the game at Witham, the U's were a goal behind in the first five minutes.
A ball over the top saw Newson find his way behind the back four and, as Phillips came out to engage him, the striker slotted the ball in off the far side netting.
There then followed a host of U's chances in the remainder of the first half.
Tosin Olufemi drove a shot straight at the keeper, then Jackson Ramm struck in a fierce effort that was parried before it was taken off Olufemi's toes.
On 26 minutes, the returning Jordan Sanderson dragged a shot wide of goal, before he then had the ball passed to him at the edge of the box by Ramm.
The U's youngster stepped onto it before placing a shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
Trailing by a goal at the break, the U's came close to an equaliser six minutes after the interval.
Wright came out of midfield to move across the Needham defence, but his shot clipped off a defender on the way through and thudded off the crossbar, with the keeper left flat-footed.
That moment of misfortune proved crucial as Needham won a penalty on 56 minutes - their third spot kick of pre-season and Newson sent Phillips the wrong way.
Ten minutes later and the U's were back in the game, with arguably the best goal of the match.
Olufemi followed Wright's lead in stepping in off the wing and he curled a sumptuous effort beyond the keeper and into the top corner of the net.
Jackson Ramm was substituted on 70 minutes after the referee requested that he was taken off following a heavy challenge, although it was not dissimilar to a challenge at the other end not long before.
The U's could have pulled another one back as Ladapo headed over from a great Olufemi cross.
But it finished 3-1 to the home team on what was one of the best playing surfaces of pre-season.
U's: Phillips, Ramm (Simmons 70), Bender, Roast, Okimo, Hamilton (Mafuta 76), Sanderson, James-Lewis, Wright, Ladapo, Olufemi