A much changed Colchester United fell to defeat in their Checkatrade Trophy opener on Tuesday night, with Southampton running out 2-0 winners.

Head Coach John McGreal made seven changes for the game, with Paul Rooney and Aaron Barnes making their debuts in the starting eleven.

Ryan Clampin also followed from the bench for his own first competitive appearance for the club, as he joined the list of Academy products to have made the first team.

Whilst the U's had their chances in the game, Dillon Barnes was kept busy in the first half until Marcus Barnes' opener, with Michael Obafemi sealing the win in the final moments of the match.

The U's started the game the brighter, with a series of dangerous crosses being well defended by the visiting side.

But, as the half wore on, the Saints started to test the U's with their pace proving problematic - both in closing down the U's in possession and getting in behind the home back four.

Dillon Barnes saved well to tip a free kick onto the post, but the home side found themselves behind on 27 minutes.

The ball was sent into the box and Marcus Barnes rose highest to power home a header past namesake Dillon to open the scoring.

The U's started to get a bit more of a foothold in the game and it was some good defending from the visitors that kept the more senior side at bay.

First O'Driscoll headed clear under pressure from a corner, before Valery eased Dickenson off the path of the ball at the end of a flowing U's move.

The Saints pace continued to be their main advantage and Obafemi got in behind on forty minutes, with Barnes tipping his shot onto the bar and away to safety.

It remained 0-1 at half time and the U's changed things up with the introduction of Ryan Gondoh for Szmodics at half time.

The winger almost got straight into the action as, at the end of a long U's spell of possession, he struck in a low shot that the keeper saved.

They then had another chance as a corner was dropped to Wright on the edge of the box, but he volleyed well over.

The visitors were still dangerous with their pace, though, and Rowthorn should have done better when he lifted one over from the edge of the box.

The U's had a sight of goal when Mandron unleashed a shot from distance that clipped Slattery and went behind for a corner, before Rooney's shot from the set piece was well blocked.

The U's made their second change of the night when they introduced Ryan Clampin in place of Dickenson for the final quarter of the game.

Senior used his tricks to get the U's into the box on 72 minutes, with two shots well blocked by the visiting defence.

They repeated that feat on 77 minutes, when Clampin was set up by Collins and his effort from a tight angle was repelled once again.

The home side made their final change with twelve minutes to go, as Frank Nouble replaced Collins.

The U's had another chance from a corner as Lewis pulled off a good stop to see the ball away from danger.

And the visitors continued to repel the ball as it came into the box and were rewarded with a late second goal.

That was enough to seal victory in this one, with Southend next up for the U's.