Colchester United U23s lost 3-2 to Ipswich Town at the JobServe Community Stadium in the Professional Development League.
The U's twice lead in the first half through Chay Cooper and Sam Cornish, sandwiching a goal from Chirewa before Hughes made it level before the break.
But the home side fell behind in the second half to a Cameron Humphreys goal, before being reduced to ten men before the final whistle.
The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors ten minutes into the game, and former Swindon Town loanee, Tyreece Simpson. A loose ball across the middle of the park was collected and played out wide to the advancing Harley Curtis. The wide player delivere a low cross into the centre of the penalty area, but Ipswich's forward put his effort wide of Johnson's near post.
Colchester United had the next best chance in the game, but only two minutes before Chay Cooper found the opener. Harvey Sayer fizzed a half-volley just wide of White's post and out for a goal kick.
But Cooper was able to hit the target in the twenty-first minute, slotting the ball in off the post to give his side the lead. Sam Cornish played an excellent through-ball to the winger, who kept his cool despite the onrushing 'keeper to make it 1-0 to the U's.
The U's could have extended their advantage after a good counter-attacking move when Dobra picked out Cooper racing forward. The scorer of the first then delivered a cross that was just a little in front of Donell Thomas, with the ball running out for a goal kick.
And it proved to be a costly miss for the home side with Ipswich Town finding the equaliser a minute later. A mix up at the back between Johnson and Gbadebo saw Tawanda Chirewa sneak in and shoot beyond the 'keeper the level the scores.
It was the first of three goals in three minutes at the JobServe Community Stadium, with the U's re-taking their lead two minutes later. Sam Cornish was the man on target for the U23s - Harvey Sayer delivered a good, low cross with Cornish arriving at the back post to tap convert.
But once again, the U's couldn't keep their lead, and Ipswich Town were back on level terms a minute later with a spectacular effort from Tommy Hughes. The visitors' winger cut in from the left flank and looped an effort over Johnson to make it 2-2 with thirty-three minutes played.
The visitors had another couple of good chances, both falling to Tyreece Simpson. But the front-man was unable to convert with Endurance Johnson foiling him on one occasion, with Simpson putting the other high and wide over the bar.
An action-packed first half drew to a close with the scores level at two apiece.
The visitors came out looking to get their noses ahead in the game early in the second period, and thought that they had found the breakthrough in the fiftieth minute. Tyreece Simpson shot low into the corner beyond Johnson, only for the flag to be raised for offside.
And Cameron Humphreys forced a good save out of Johnson a minute later after a weaving run into the box. He evaded the tackles from the U's defender, finally getting an effort in from about ten yards out, but the 'keeper was equal to it and Colchester United were able to clear their lines.
The U's went even closer to getting back in front in the game, with Armando Dobra seeing an effort strike the post. A good counter-attacking move saw Cooper play the ball into the path of Dobra who controlled and shot low beyond White, only to see his effort bounce back off the woodwork and out to safety.
But it was the visitors who took the lead for the first time in the game with just under twenty minutes to play. Cameron Humphreys was the man on target with a strike at the back post that nestled in the corner of the net after bouncing off the inside of the post.
With just over ten minutes to play, the U's had a much more difficult task of getting back into the game, as Kai Redgrave was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Fraser Alexander.
It proved to be the killer blow to the U's, as the visitors were able to keep the ball for much of the remaining period of the game, eventually taking all three points from the Professional Development League encounter.
Colchester United starting XI: Johnson, Sullivan, Sayer, Lowe, Beadle, Gbadebo, Cooper, Miranda, Thomas, Dobra, Cornish.
Subs: Parish, Chakawa, Price, Redgrave, Tedaldi.
Ipswich Town starting XI: White, Agbaje, Smith, Alexander, Stewart, Baggott, Curtis, Humphreys, Simpson, Chirewa, Hughes.
Subs: Bradshaw, Ridd, Siziba, Bello, Yengi.
Photo Credit: Ben Pooley