A young U's U23s fell to a 4-2 defeat at Needham Market on Saturday afternoon.
The Marketmen's side featured two former U's U23s players in JJ Wilson and Callum Sturgess and, after a busy summer of recruitment for the home team, they were to run out victors.
Needham took the lead on 25 minutes when Adam Mills flicked the ball home.
The U's were level within a minute of the restart for the second half, though, as a flowing passing move finished with Dean Ager finishing to make it 1-1.
Midway through the second half, the home side were in front again as Joe Marsden finished neatly to restore the advantage.
The game was taken further away from the visitors with ten minutes to go as Jerry Kamanzi lobbed the ball home to make it 3-1.
The U's scored on almost the final whistle as Tariq Issa curled home an effort from just inside the box, but the final advantage for Needham was to be two goals, as a substitute slotted home.