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U18s Back To Winning Ways

Posted on: Mon 07 Sep 2009

REPORT AND PICTURE BY BRIAN WALLER
The U's got back to winning ways after last week's setback, as they tackled Brentford in the first group match in this season's Alliance League Cup.

In what was to be an entertaining encounter, a hard working home display saw them secure a narrow victory.

There were a few early problems for Colchester as a free kick from the right was knocked wide at the back post where it found Jack Ward.

He turned well, came back inside onto his left foot and shot, but the ball flicked off Cem Aytac and went away for a corner.

Charlie Allen swung this in from the left, keeper Andrew Dickey came for it and although James McCluskey got to the ball, he sent his header looping over the bar.

Colchester then got more into the game, and after some neat passing football, released Jordan Sanderson on the right.

He slid the ball across, but Louis O'Sullivan could not get much power on the shot and it was an easy save for keeper Michael Pritchard at his near post.

The visitors continued to show some good promise; Daniel Lawrence delivered a ball in from the right, and when the home defence missed it, Jack Ward got his shot away, but it was a fairly comfortable save for keeper Dickey.

Colchester so nearly led when Craig Arnott came in from the left and struck an effort that hit the bar and came back into play again.

It was much better now from the hosts and as Pavett and O'Leary played the one-two, the firm effort from the former was well taken by the keeper.

As the half came to a close, the away team thought that they might get a penalty when after a superb run by Paleyo Gomez, Bradley Hamilton came in with a challenge, and when the former went to ground, the referee said nothing doing, indicating that he thought it had been shoulder to shoulder.

A late home chance saw Tom Bender swing the ball into the back post, but the keeper was there to gather as Sanderson closed in.

After half time again Brentford had a good early chance as the free kick came in from the right, but with just keeper Dickey to beat, Ricky Valentine lifted his shot over the bar.

Changes had been made at the break with Jordan Lartey on for O'Leary and Adam Cole replacing Lawrence for Brentford.

However it was to be the home sub who made the most of his introduction.

He did some good work on the left, before combining well with Pavett, he swung in the cross, and a glance off the head of Arnott found the target to put the U's ahead with eight minutes of the second half gone.

The home side now looked well in control and after more good passing, and some dangerous crosses in from the right by McCloskey, the final effort by Pavett was drilled just wide of the far post.

After a nasty knock Aytac was replaced by Jack Folan. He slotted in at right back, whilst Hamilton joined John Glowacki in the centre of the defence.

Keeper Dickey made a smart save to prevent a Brentford equaliser, and when the home side sent the ball forward it came off a visiting player, but as Arnott tried to capitalise, a defender was there to halt his forward run.

The away team had one glorious late chance as the ball ran across to Pitt on the left, but he pulled his shot wide of the post.

Colchester then had a really good opportunity to make it 2-0.

It was Pavett racing clear of the defence, but although he struck the shot firmly, it crashed against the keeper's right post and back into play.

Colchester hung on, and this enabled them to secure the three points to start their league cup games in grand style..

Colchester: Andrew Dickey, Bradley Hamilton, John Glowacki, Cem Aytac, Tom Bender, Jordan Sanderson, Louis O'Sullivan, George Wilson, Alex O'Leary, Craig Arnott and Jordan Pavett

Used subs: Jordan Lartey, Conor McCloskey and Jack Folan with unused subs: Shane Cusack (gk) and Shane Stamp