Colchester United recorded their first win of pre-season amongst two sixty-minute friendlies against Championship side Swansea City.
Taking in two behind-closed-doors friendlies against Swansea City, the U's recorded a 2-0 win followed by a slender 1-0 defeat in South Wales.
First Game Line Up: George, Coxe, Chambers, Smith, Clampin (Sayer), Skuse, Hannant, Judge, Newby, Cooper, Nouble.
In a fiesty and comepetitive game, Wayne Brown's side took the lead after just ten minutes.
Ryan Clampin provided the assist to Luke Hannant, who bagged the first goal of pre-season. Clampin got the move underway with a marauding run down the left flank, before picking out Hannant, with the winger able to accuratley slot the ball beyond the home 'keeper.
The U's desereved their lead, but had to work hard to preserve it until the break after thirty minutes, with a good chance saved by Shamal George, before another was put wide of the mark shortly after.
And it proved to be a vital save by the Colchester United stopper, as Frank Nouble doubled the advantage for the U's midway through the second period.
It was a well-worked free kick taken by Alan Judge that saw the ball lofter to Luke Chambers at the back post. The centre half had the job of putting the ball back across the danger area, with Frank Nouble on hand to smash the ball home from the six-yard line, ensuring the U's would come away winners from the first match.
Second Game Line Up: Hornby, Tchamadeu, Beadle (Terry), Eastman, Kazeem, Marshall Miranda, Chilvers, Huws, Sears, Akinde, Trialist (Hutchinson).
Colchester United kicked off the second game in much the same fashion as they had played the first. Some excellent counter-attacking football created chances for the visitors, with Noah Chilvers unlucky to see a lobbed effort fly just over the bar.
And the tricky midfielder almost turned provider for what would have been the opening goal shortly after. Again, breaking down the left flank, Chilvers looked up to try and pick a pass across the penalty area, but was unable to find a teammate, as the ball rolled away and out of danger.
The tight affair continued into the second half with the hosts edging the better of the chances, finally able to put one away with about fifteen minutes of the game to play. From the left wing, the ball was delivered to the back post, with the Swansea man getting the better of Al-Amin Kazeem to nod the ball down and beyond Sam Hornby to give his side the advantage.
John Akinde and Freddie Sears battled up front, but came up against a resilient home defence, although they put their counterparts to the test on a few occasions.
Nevertheless, it was once again another good opportunity for Wayn Brown and his management team to see what his squad is shaping up to be ahead of the 2022/23 season, with another friendly coming up in quick succession, as the U's take on Bath City on Wednesday evening.