Dave Huzzey and Richard Hall's side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Princes Park this afternoon against Charlton Athletic in the Professional Development League.
The hosts were quick off the mark in taking the lead, when they went a goal ahead inside ten minutes. Richard Afrane-Kesey was the man on target getting the first of the game, with a confident finish low past Coulter after a slip from a U's defender.
And ten minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead, with Samuel Oguntayo finding the back of the net. Coulter could do nothing about the fierce effort that was curled into the top corner of the net from just outside the area.
The Addicks controlled the game for the remainder of the half, with the sides heading to the dressing rooms with the score at 2-0.
The young U's pulled one back with twenty minutes to go, giving them hope of a rescue against the East London side.
Jake Hutchinson (pictured above) was calm and confident as he slotted the ball beyond Osaghae in the home goal, but it proved only to be a consolation when just a minute later the hosts had restored their two-goal advanatge.
Afrane-Kesey turned provider for the third, when he squard the ball to Charles Clayden who rifled the ball beyond Coulter and into the back of the net, to take a decisive lead once again.
In the standings, it means that the U's remain in seventh position, while Charlton move themselves up to third in the table.
Next up for the young U's is a home game against Bristol City, who are the runaway leads of the southern division, six points ahead of Ipswich Town with a game in hand.
Charlton Athletic starting XI: Osaghae, Barton, Oguntayo, Henry, Ness, Taylor, Carvalho, Agyemang, Afrane-Kesey, Quitirna, Clayden.
Subs: Harvey, Barker, Aidoo, Sivi.
Colchester United starting XI: Coulter, Akolbire, Trialist, Cornish, Cracknell, Terry, Bohui, Marshall Miranda, Hutchinson, Stagg, Hasanally.
Subs: Johnson, Trialist, Lowe, Tricker.