Colchester United's U23s have been beaten 4-1 by Charlton Athletic
They travelled to Dartford FC’s Princes Park Stadium to face the Addicks on Monday afternoon, and the result was pretty much decided as Charlton raced away into a 3-0 lead inside the first half hour.
Sammie McLeod got one back for the U's, but Charlton took the game away from the U's completely with a fourth goal three quarters of the way through.
The young U’s initially started the game well though, and could, and maybe should, have scored when Jake Hutchinson (pictured) took advantage of a loose ball in the opposition half.
He had a clear run at goal, but could only manage a tame effort that Nathan Harness in the Charlton goal saved comfortably
After that let off, it did not take the Addicks long to take the lead as Josh Davison netted with a fine finish.
He was smartly set up by Junior Quitirna after his fine run into the left hand side of the box and made it 1-0 on thirteen minutes.
Davison added a second six minutes later, powering his shot into the net after keeper Bailey Vose had saved the deflected fiercely driven effort by Quitirna.
Charlton nearly had another as George Lapslie, brother of U’s midfielder Tom, dinked a well weighted ball into the box and out to Albie Morgan but his attempt was well saved by Vose.
A third goal was conceded after a home triallist was fouled in the box by a strong challenge and James Vennings converted the resulting penalty, fiercely driving into the left hand side of the net.
That goal came on twenty four minutes and the U’s finally started to match their hosts in the remaining minutes of the first half.
They couldn’t find a goal back though, and the whistle went with Charlton leading 3-0.
Taylor Maloney replaced Lapslie at half time for Charlton but there was hope for the U’s soon after the restart when they did manage to get a goal back.
Sammie McLeod scored with a well-placed effort on fifty six minutes, and this was the prelude to a good spell by the visitors.
Any chance of a comeback was squashed on sixty eight minutes though, as Charlton scored a fourth.
Davison completed his hat trick from the spot after Johl Powell was pushed in the box.
The young U’s were unable to make any late impression in the game, and the game ended with Charlton confirming their qualification to the next round with one game remaining.
The result means the young U's can now not progress to the next round of the Premier League Cup.
There is one game remaining to play, against Swansea City who also cannot qualify for the next round.