It was a tough night for the U's U23s in South Wales, as they fell to a 5-1 defeat against Swansea City in their latest Premier League Cup tie.
The Swans scored early in the match to establish a two goal lead and, whilst Diaz Wright pulled one back on the stroke of half time, the Swans were not in the mood to let their advantage slip and extended their control of the game in the second half.
The home side took the lead on fourteen minutes as Adnan Maric slotted home.
And, just before the twenty minute mark, Oli McBurnie gave Dan Wilks no chance as he rifled home as he got on the end of a Swansea free kick.
The U's were right back in the game just before half time, though.
A Colchester corner saw the ball eventually fall at the feet of Diaz Wright and he made no mistake as he reduced the arrears at the interval.
However, Swansea restored their two goal advantage just before the hour mark. McBurnie again proved dangerous at set pieces, heading home from a corner at the near post.
Courtney Baker-Richardson took the game further away from the U's on 65 minutes with Swansea's fourth and the scoring was completed with five minutes to go as Daniel James stepped off the bench to score after a clever one two on the edge of the box.
U's: Wilks, James, Wilson, W. Wright, Jefferies, Diaz Wright, Edge (Allarakhia 75), Dunne, Sheriff, Issa, Senior (McKeown 71)