REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER, PICTURE MARK SPURGEON
Despite a good start the U's were unable to build on this, as they were brushed aside by an impressive Lions side, who were on a very good run of league form.

Although they were eventually left disappointed, there was almost a sensational start as the home team so nearly scored in the first minute.

A ball was passed back to keeper Shaun Phillips and he kicked long.

After a flick on by Craig Arnott, it saw Freddie Ladapo move on to the ball, and after brushing aside his marker, he drove in a shot. However, keeper Jamie Farmer superbly tipped it over the bar.

The visitors then responded as Jake Gallagher set up Connor French, keeper Phillips saved well, but the offside flag had already gone up.

Then it was Matty Redgrave making a vital tackle on French to concede a corner. From this Gallagher's curling effort was half volleyed just over the bar.

Tobi Alabi then ran at the defence, but Redgrave held his ground on the edge of the box, and the chance then never materialised.

A Jack Folan header clear only went as far as Gallagher, but his sliced effort bent wide of the near post.

The U's then led as Redgrave sent the ball long, and when the Millwall keeper scuffed his attempt to clear, Mason Stewart unselfishly squared the ball across to the centre for Freddie Ladapo to put the chance away.

The good work was soon undone as the visitors got away on the left through French, and when he cut the ball back there was Gallagher moving on to it, to rifle a low shot past the home keeper.

The U's then had to concede a corner and from this taken from the left by Jack Samoutis, there was Jake Goodman rising high at the back post, to loop his header over the bar.

A strong Stewart challenge then started a promising move down the left, as Connor Cranmer then Arnott joined forced to set up Ladapo.

The striker performed a smart turn, but his left footed shot went over the bar.

Neat linking up saw Folan find Ryan Melaugh who ran in at goal, the shot ricocheted away to Bradley Hamilton, who tried to cross in again, but the diversion took it up and away for another corner.

A bad mistake on half way by Folan saw David Adepipe break clear away, but keeper Phillips stood his ground well, and made a good save.

A nasty clash on half way then Redgrave sustain a bad bang to the nose, and he had to be led off and be replaced by Trevor Ajim.

Within a short time, Colchester were behind. 

A good pass found David Adepipe and his low cross cum shot found its way into the far corner of the net.

The U's had early second half promise as Arnott set up Ladapo but the shot lacked power and it was an easy block by Paul.

Alabi on the left looked to be getting clear shortly afterwards, but Folan did well to get back to make a tackle on him.

With 25 minutes to go, the U's made a second change as Stewart was replaced by Tosin Olufemi.

After Phillips had saved well low down from Adepipe, Millwall then made the game safe as Gallagher on the right played the ball to the near post, where French was on the spot to put the chance away.

The U's just had to throw everybody forward. Sanderson sent the ball high, but the keeper was there to touch away, as Arnott put him under pressure.

Folan was booked for dissent and soon afterwards Gallagher too saw yellow after a crunching challenge on Olufemi.

The final whistle came with the U's two goals behind, as the Lions took the spoils.

Colchester: Shaun Phillips, Jack Folan, Bradley Hamilton, Matty Redgrave, Connor Cranmer, Jordan Sanderson, Mason Stewart, Alex Gilbey, Ryan Melaugh, Craig Arnott and Freddie Ladapo

Used subs: Trevor Ajim, Tosin Olufemi and Ross Gilfedder