REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER
After a break of six weeks, the U's youth team at last got back into football action, as they took on their local rivals from the south of the county.

After the previous day's rain, the pitch was a little heavy but held up well, in what was a much changed home line up.

With all of their second years out on loans at Halstead, Stanway and Wivenhoe, just three remained - those being the two keepers Andrew Dickey and Shane Cusack and the Irish trio was completed by striker Michael Rafter, who was back trying to recover for a long term injury lay off.

When the teams met in Southend in November, Colchester led the table, whilst their opponents were second. 

The Shrimpers won that day 2-1, and how the forms of the two sides have contrasted since then. 

Southend have powered on to take a nine point lead at the top of the table, whilst Colchester have nose dived to fifth place, after five consecutive league and cup defeats.

It was a dull but dry morning and the home side started well and soon took the lead.

First Michael Rafter's drive from the left was blocked, and then when Freddie Ladapo got on to the loose ball, keeper Brandon Hall made a smart save low down to his left.

When the resulting corner came in from the right, it found Craig Arnott on the back post, whose shot back across goal hit the far corner of the net with just four minutes on the clock.

Southend then struck back.

They attacked down the left, and when Justin Hazell challenged with Trevor Ajim, the ball found the back of the net, with the Southend man claiming the goal.

Ajim then mishit a back pass, with no real contact on it at all, and Kyle Asante was onto it. He laid it left for Harry Crawford but he fired over the bar.

Then it was Colchester on the offensive, Arnott struck a shot well and although the keeper did good work to save, the referee deemed the U's striker had been impeded in the act of shooting and gave the home side a free kick.

Michael Rafter took it, but the keeper held on with ease.

Not to be undaunted by their recent poor run of form, the U's then led again, as Freddie Ladapo - on work experience down from Tottenham - slipped his shot under the dive of keeper Hall midway through the half.

Colchester kept up the pressure and Josh Ekim drove in a free kick which then ran out to Rafter on the left, he drilled the low ball across the goalmouth, but nobody could get a touch in.

Then it was Jordan Sanderson with a long range effort and then after a one-two with Ekim, he burst into the box and went down but it was deemed a fair challenge. 

Shortly afterwards, it was not the case on the right hand edge of the box when Rafter was caught, and this resulted in a booking for Ade Osifuwa. However the free kick came to nothing.

After all the good work, the U's hopes plummeted as they conceded two goals in the minutes just before and after half time.

After tackles were made on the edge of the box, the ball fell to Marcus Milner, who drove in a shot from the right to find the far corner of the net.

Half time came and went and within seconds Southend led 3-2, as Harry Crawford got the better of Cem Aytac, to slip his shot past keeper Dickey.

Bradley Hamilton and Brendan Kiernan combined on the left, the former crossed in, but Ladapo on the back post could not get a good contact on the ball on the back post.

In quick time keeper Dickey excelled twice saving a shot from Hazell and a header by Crawford.

It was a vital piece of work as it the hosts got back on level terms when Rafter was fouled in the box and although the loose ball was put away, the referee had awarded a spot kick, which the striker confidently put away.

The parity was short lived as a home player slipped to the ground, and this allowed Kyle Asante to burst away as he tried to round the keeper he was sent crashing to the ground, it was a penalty to Southend, and a red card for the U's keeper.

This necessitated the introduction of Shane Cusack as the replacement keeper with Ladapo making way, the penalty was struck home, by the felled man, and in a seesaw encounter it a 4-3 advantage to Southend.

Another change saw Ross Gilfedder on for Arnott and Mason Stewart for Jack Folan, with the away team making several alterations of their own.

Milner then burst clear on the right, and as Cusack came out, he was lobbed, but the shot struck the top of the bar.

Colchester came fighting back strongly, Rafter in on the left was denied by the keeper's save and he sprawled to his left to push the shot away and when Ekim's free kick was blocked by the wall, Sanderson crashed the shot just over the bar.

Colchester: Andrew Dickey, Jack Folan, Trevor Ajim, Cem Aytac, Bradley Hamilton, Brendon Kiernan, Jordan Sanderson, Josh Ekim, Craig Arnott, Freddie Ladapo and Michael Rafter

Used subs: Shane Cusack, Ross Gilfedder and Mason Stewart on for Folan, Arnott and Ladapo