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REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER
Eight games played, eight games lost, that is the unfortunate recent form of the Colchester United youth team.

An inexperienced team took on a lively Northampton squad at a snowy Garrison Ground ground.

As the game got underway, the white stuff began to fall steadily on what was to turn out to be an afternoon to forget for the young U's.

There was an early chance for the visitors which was stabbed just wide, but the offside flag had already gone up. However, it was no surprise when Greg Kazibone got the better of full back Ben Jones to cross in from the left and Mark Withers turned in at the near post, to give Northampton the lead.

Colchester responded as Craig Arnott played Michael Rafter in on the left, and his great persistence won his side a corner, but Josh Ekim totally overhit the ball in.

However it was mainly Northampton dominance - Liam Ruddock ventured forward from right back, beat keeper Shane Cusaack all ends up, but his effort crashed against the far post and when Trevor Ajim failed to get distance on his clearance, Ruddock drove the loose ball over the bar.

Then it was Rafter again trying to slip between Malachi Farquharson and Tom McGowan, but when he went to ground, Ekim overhit the free kick to the far post.

Farquharson played the first of many delightful through balls that were to pose home problems, and it was fine left footed volley into the net by Withers, but he was just offside.

Michael Jacobs was having a big influence on the game from midfield, and flicked a great ball into the box for Withers and Konstantinou to get on to, but big Trevor Ajim used his strength to get a foot in and clear the danger. Ruddock following up, drove the loose ball over the bar.

Jordan Sandserson lost out in a challenge with Kaziboni and conceded a free kick, which Michael Jacobs crashed into the net from about 25 yards out to make it 2-0 midway through the first half.

A neat run down the right by Jones then fed in Freddie Ladapo, but under pressure his shot lacked power.

Ruddock was then spoken to after a couple of niggling challenges on Craig Arnott, but Sanderson's free kick in was cleared away.

Bradley Hamilton after great composure on the ball found Ekim, who in turn found Ladapo.

He fed in Brendan Kiernan who went down under the challenge of the keeper Mihai Gherasim, but just a corner was given by the referee.

A neat ball down the left to Withers, exposed the U's defence again, but when he crossed in for Konstantinou to put in the net, he was flagged offside.

Colchester continued to be under pressure, and after surviving one good passing move, they fell further behind when a throw in on the right went across and found Kaziboni on the left.

He laid the ball back for Jacobs to instantly angle his shot past Shane Cusack to his left for a three goal advantage as half time approached.

Colchester did have a good spell just before half time, but at 3-0 down, they really needed a miracle now.

Michael Rafter slid the ball goalwards from the left, but left back Ben Islam scooped the ball off the line for his keeper to catch.

Then from the right Arnott saw his effort diverted away for a corner kick. A disappointing half ended with the U's having a lot to think about.

The visitors continued to press after the break, with keeper Cusack having to come out and kick clear, then Konstantinou missed a great chance as he stumbled after pressure by Jones.

Konstantinou was in again, and got the better of Jones, but from a prime position, somehow shot wide, when a goal looked on a plate.

The visitors continued to pose problems, but not when McGowan worked some space, but dragged his shot badly wide.

Then it was Farquharson who won a good challenge, but shot just wide.

A great ball out to the left by Sanderson then nearly found Arnott, but Ruddock slid a foot in to find his keeper. 

Later on in the game, the ball came in from the right, with Farquharson volleying wide.

However, there was to be no mistake next time around as Konstantinou made up for earlier misses, when he calmly slotted his shot away to make it 4-0.

After neat link up between Gilfedder and Ladapo, the former shot over the bar and, at the other end, it was nearly a fifth, but Cusack saved well with his feet from Konstantinou.

There was a third ruled out Cobblers goal when Ruddock played a great ball across from the right, Konstantinou knocked it goalward, but when Withers applied the final touch, he was again deemed offside.

Gilfedder then made it a fourth ruled out goal, when he lobbed the shot over the keeper to net for the U's, but he too was flagged offside.

Colchester: Shane Cusack, Jones, Trevor Ajim, Bradley Hamilton, Josh Cann, Jordan Sanderson, Josh Ekim, Craig Arnott, Brendan Kiernan, Freddie Ladapo and Michael Rafter

Used subs: Sayo Ogundayo, Jack Folan and Ross Gilfedder and unused subs: Shaun Phillips and Mason Stewart