Colchester United U18s ran northern section leaders Sheffield Wednesday close on Saturday, with only a late penalty guiding the Owls to victory.
On a very windy morning at Florence Park, it was Colchester who took an early lead. The U's broke from a Wednesday free kick and a precise pass from the midfield by Taymar Fleary found the supporting run of Jake Hutchinson down the right and, when he played it back inside to Ollie Sims, he put away a left foot shot after just four minutes
The U’s went on to have the best of the play in the first half and they merited that lead given to them early on.
They went into the break in front, but had to defend the lead with the swirling wind against them in the second forty-five minutes.
The visitors equalised after six minutes of the second period, as a delivery in from the left saw Dellan Thompson arriving on the back post to head past the U’s keeper Callum Coulter.
The crucial moment of the match saw a ball in from the right and when Coulter rushed out to contest with Elliot Vasalo, the away player went down under the challenge of the home keeper and the referee pointed to the spot.
Although Liam Waldock put this confidently away to the keeper’s right, whilst the U’s player went to the left, the referee ordered a retake as the ball had rolled forward off the spot. The retake had the same result, with a similar mover by the keeper and the taker, as the ball was then despatched into the home net.
Colchester United: Callum Coulter, Lordon Akolbire, Josh Fouche, Namory Kane, Harvey Sayer, Sam Cornish, Gene Kennedy, Taymar Fleary, Marley Miranda, Ollie Sims and Jake Hutchinson and used subs: Tom Stagg, Kai Redgrave and Kacy Parish with unused subs: Ted Collins and Donell Thomas