Colchester United

The Terriers got level within minutes of the restart and went on to have the better of the second half from there.In a busy programme of matches for the Development squad, with three games in six days, the U's lost the first of these, despite leading at half time.

Louis Dunne, playing his first U21s match, was the first go close, before Macauley Bonne in the action won a heading duel with Joe Wilkinson, but the dropping ball saw the bounce elude the awaiting Jack Marriott.
Huddersfield player Philip Billing, then set up Jack Boyle for a good run into the box but his shot was charged down. 

Colchester then built an attack as Tosin Olufemi found Jack Curtis, he linked with Tyler Brampton but the pass on for Louis Dunne was a bit too strong.

Ben Marlow then found Brampton with the pass on the left and he set up Dunne but his shot was blocked at the near post, before a pass forward saw Duane Holmes in with a chance again but the clearance by James cannoned back off the Terriers player and went out for a goal kick.

A crossfield ball by Jacob Hanson found Duane Holmes but his effort was charged down by the defence as the match remained scoreless.  

After a period of trading chances, it was the U’s who then grabbed the lead.

Olufemi attacked down the right, and his cross in was partially blocked, but the ball still ran on for Bonne to turn and score to give the U's the advantage.

Straight away Colchester then went close again, Olufemi set up Marriott but his shot was blocked. 

From a throw in from the left, there was an opportunity for the Terriers in the presence of Pyke, but he lifted the bouncing ball well over the bar.

On the left byline Bonne showed the ball to Wilkinson knocked it past it, but another Huddersfield player was on hand to put the ball behind for a corner.
At the start of the second period, Lewington's pass out put his defence under pressure and, as the ball was intercepted, it allowed Florent Bojaj to feed to his left for the unmarked Duane Holmes.

The end of the first half was a prelude to the second as the home team found themselves defending, which they found themselves doing for much of the second half.

The home team briefly responded as Marriott drove his shot over, but back came the visitors as they began to dictate the play, with most of the good work, started by the impressive Holmes in midfield who seemed to be instrumental in most of their attacks.

U’s trialist defender Ben Burgess was booked for holding his opponent before the resulting free kick from 35 yards out by Duane Holmes was rifled goalwards but Lewington flying across to his right, pushed the shot away.

A corner cleared out was returned back into the box, and with Will Boyle still upfield and onside, it needed a good reflex save by Lewington to deny him and James to do the tidy up clearance.

Colchester were now coming under a lot of pressure and when a move forward with Marriott broke down, the visitors were on the offensive again, but Jack Boyle put his shot just over the bar. 

A poor home pass put them in danger again, but Lewington saved well with an outstretched leg from Pyke.

A first change on the hour saw Callum Harrison replace Marlow, then a ball into the near post by Bojaj saw Pyke in challenging with James, but the effort was just wide and then Will Boyle up for a set piece won out in a tussle with Bonne, stood up the cross to the back post but the header by Bojaj was veering wide. 

It perhaps came as no surprise when the away team took the lead as neat passing saw Holmes set up Pyketo drive his shot into the far corner of the net from the right side of the box.

Moments later and it could have been worse, but the shot by Bojaj drifted wide of the far post.

To their credit, Colchester were hanging on in the game, and then created a great chance as Olufemi feeding the ball from the right, to his left, found Byron Lawrence, but although the low strike was well hit, the keeper lined it up well, to save and gather in.

Duane Holmes played in Ben Holmes down the right, but James was in with the tackle away for a corner. This was taken by Senior, but under pressure from Burgess, the header by Pyke was miscued away. 

In one final home chance from a throw in by Brampton, James was found, he played the ball for Marriott who from the left angle of the box, curled his chance in, but keeper Lloyd Allinson pulled the ball down. 

There was more good fortune for the home team as on the turn the powerful shot by Billing smacked against the bar.