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Youth Team Halt Losing Run

Posted on: Mon 08 Mar 2010

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REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER, PIC BY MARK SPURGEON
The deadlock has been broken, and at last the boys have halted their losing run of ten consecutive games that went back to October 2009.

It was a game that they probably thought on chances that they could have won, but at least they would feel that a heavy weight may have been lifted from their shoulders.

For the starting line up, the game saw the return of Shane Cusack back in goal, Bradley Hamilton was at right back, with Matty Redgrave, still recovering from a long term injury, lining up in the centre of defence with Trevor Ajim.

There were first starts for newcomers Connor Cranmer at left back and Jordan Traynier in midfield.

Joining him in the centre of the team were Mason Stewart and Jordan Sanderson.

With Craig Arnott back more in an attacking up field role with Freddie Ladapo, it was Michael Rafter playing more of the roving wing role.

There was early home promise as Rafter played in Arnott, but despite him knocking it past keeper Dexter Burt, before he had the chance to get onto the loose ball, Greg Butler got the ball clear.

After one good earlier tackle by Redgrave, he then threw himself in the line of a shot, to make a good block too.

For Colchester, Arnott was then denied by a save from the keeper. He then set up the ball for Ladapo and Sanderson, but the chance came to nothing.

After a slip by Ajim, it was Luke Hacker looking to break clear, but Hamilton was across to make an excellent tackle.

When a defender clearing was caught by a late challenge by Ladapo, a good advantage by the referee saw the ball go to Curt Dizon, but it was an excellent block by the feet of keeper Shane Cusack.

A pass by Bilal Butt then went to Jack Ward, but Stewart was in with a tackle to provide the pass for Arnott to make a long run forward, but his effort at goal was rather wayward.

The latter then set up Sanderson, but his attempt was even worse, skied miles over the bar.

When Aaron Scott went in late on Hamilton as he tried to clear the ball, he was duly booked by the referee.

A great through ball then set up the Bees` opener as Luke Hacker slipped in through a slightly hesitant defence, to calmly slot the shot to the left of the home keeper

A ball over the defence from Traynier so nearly provided the leveller, as Arnott was onto the pass to slot home, but the offside flag went up.

Then it was the visitors attacking down the right and when Hazlewood went down under a challenge by Ajim, the referee merely gave a corner instead of the appealed for penalty kick.

This started a spell of Brentford pressure with corners won before half time, but no further goals came.

The best early second half chance came for the away team as Scott got away, he rounded keeper Cusack who went to ground, but then amazingly the striker knocked wide of an open goal.

With David Pitt already on as a sub for the visitors, Colchester made two of their own as Jack Folan and Ben Jones came on for Rafter and Redgrave.

Then it was Hazlewood going through a couple of challenges, before rifling his shot over the bar.

For Colchester, Cranmer hung the ball up and Ladapo challenged with the keeper successfully, but his attempt to overhead kick in, was caught by the keeper.

Sanderson tried his luck from distance which sailed wide, but the U's were on level terms when Arnott played in Ladapo who flicked the ball over the oncoming keeper and it rolled into the net.

Kyle Vassell was then the second visiting sub but it was Colchester again threatening as Arnott from the left set up Ladapo, but the keeper saved, pushing the ball away down to his left.

There was a lucky escape as Cusack totally miscued his kick clear of a back pass, but he then recovered to make the tackle.

Late on there was a good chance but as Vassell got away from Ajim, his drive went over the bar.

Pitt then got away from Ajim, slipped the ball past Cusack, but it Hamilton was in position to kick clear from the goalmouth.

After a Colchester attack was halted, it was they again on the attack.

Ladapo and Arnott combined to set up Sanderson, but he delayed his shot and his eventual effort was blocked.

Finally when Jones jumped into a challenge, he was penalised by the referee but the free kick came to nothing.

Late on there was a good chance for Brentford but as Vassell got away from Ajim, his drive was over the bar.

Colchester: Shane Cusack, Bradley Hamilton, Trevor Ajim, Matty Redgrave, Connor Cranmer, Michael Rafter, Jordan Traynier, Mason Stewart, Jordan Sanderson, Craig Arnott and Freddie Ladapo

Used subs: Jack Folan and Ben Jones with unused sub: Shaun Phillips