Colchester United's U21s have been beaten 4-0 at Crewe Alexandra.
Matt Ethrington's youngsters were looking to make it three wins from their first three matches, but came unstuck at the Mornflake Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.
The U's started the game well and Kaan Bennett was unlucky not to score on two occasions, denied by a defensive block and then a good save from the home keeper.
Jake Hutchinson had an effort cleared off the line after rounding the keeper, but it was the hosts that went ahead just before the halfway stage of the first half as a free-kick was headed past Ted Collins in the U's goal.
And just before half-time, after some more pressure from the U's, Crewe doubled their lead to make it 2-0 at the break.
Two more goals in the spcae of four minutes just after the hour mark took the game away from the U's, making it a long journey home from Cheshire for Ethrington and the young squad.