Colchester United completed a turnaround at Bath City to claim a second pre-season win of the summer, concluding their trip to the West.
After a positive couple of games against Swansea City on Tuesday, the U's had another run out, picking up their second win of the summer against National League South Bath City on Wednesday evening.
The hosts took an early lead through Spokes' drive, before Triallist bagged an equaliser on the stroke of half time. Jake Hutchinson turned the game around with a simple finish from Cameron Coxe's cross six minutes into the second half before Luke Hannant forced the error for a Bath own goal in injury time.
Wayne Brown's side found themselves a goal down inside the opening eleven minutes, after Luke Spokes fired the home side ahead. But it could very easily have been a different story, with Freddie Sears going close to finding the back of the net a minute earlier.
Picking up a loose back pass, last season's top scorer raced towards the home 'keeper, firing a powerful effort into the body of Joe Wright. And it was from that save that Bath were able to counter attack, getting the ball up to Spokes quickly who twisted and turned his way into the eighteen-yard box before firing a left-footed effort into the top corner, beyond Shamal George.
But the U's continued to put the pressure on the home defence, with Alan Judge threatening from set pieces and plenty of attacking work going on down either side of the pitch.
Plenty of that attacking focus was going through young attacker Chay Cooper, who had perhaps the best chance yet to get the U's back in the game with just over half an hour played. Combining well with Junior Tchamadeu on the right flank, Cooper was able to cut inside the defender, and get a shot away, but it was weak and easily collected by the 'keeper.
The pressure paid off for the U's who got an equaliser just before the half time whistle. Coming from a poorly cleared cross, Triallist was able to arrow a shot powerfully into the bottom corner of the net, giving Joe Wright no chance.
And no sooner had the ball hit the back of the net, had the referee decided the first period was up. The half time whistle brought wholesale changes for the U’s who named an entirely new squad for the second half, playing in the same formation as they had in the first.
It was a brighter start at the start of the second half for Wayne Brown's side, who managed to get their noses in front for the first time in the game six minutes after the restart.
Jake Hutchinson was the man on target, drafted in at the last minute for John Akinde, and he had a very simple finish to make it 2-1 to his side. Much of the hard work had already been done with Marshall Miranda's excellent searching ball for Coxe, who was able to bring it down well, drive into the eighteen-yard box and deliver to the back post for Hutchinson to convert.
Brown's side kept the pressure on, looking to extend their advantage and nearly had a third with both the centre backs going close. A corner from the near side found Chambers unmarked at the back post, and he was able to generate plenty of power, but the fingertips of the 'keeper denied him.
From the resulting corner, again from the near side, Tom Eastman was found unmarked at the near post, but the experienced defender was unable to make any significant connection with the cross and the chance went begging.
There was still work to be done at the back, with Jaiyeoba and Mannings both having good chances in front of Sam Hornby's goal, although the U's 'keeper remained fairly untested throughout the second period.
The icing on the cake came in the final minute for the U's, netting a third to put the game beyond doubt. It came from a quick counter attack from Wayne Brown's side, with Luke Hannant being released down the right flank. The winger drove to the edge of the penalty area, delivering a low cross that was turned into the net by a Bath City defender, with the full time whistle blowing a moment later.
Wayne Brown's side record a second win of pre-season and now look to return to the JobServe Community Stadium next week for the first home friendly of the season, taking on Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening.
First Half Starting XI: George, Tchamadeu, Beadle, Smith, Kazeem, Judge, Triallist, Cooper, Chilvers, Nouble, Sears.
Second Half Starting XI: Hornby, Coxe, Chambers, Eastman, Sayer, Skuse, Marshall Miranda, Huws, Newby, Hannant, Hutchinson.
Subs: Terry.