Colchester United U18s suffer Semi Final heartbreak against Peterborough in the Professional Development League Cup.
It was a cagey and fiery first half from both sides, neither of the two teams had the upper hand and there were very minimal chances in that first half. Makhaya James had a brilliant game in left back, the defender had made three perfect slide tackles down the left flank by the thirty-fifth minute, and he didn't stop there either, he didn't let anyone get the better of him all game.
From the thirty-fifth minute, the U's managed to withstand heavy pressure from the hosts as they tried for an opener, however the Young U's played brilliantly to keep calm under pressure and play their way out of trouble rather than just boot it away. It worked very well for a lot of the time, but it did leave them exposed if the ball was lost in the U's own half, this happened a couple of times before the half time whistle blew but it was dealt with well.
The deadlock stayed strong as the half-time whistle blew.
The first fifteen minutes of the second half was all Peterborough, but once again the U's were disciplined and well organised to deal with any threat that the hosts attacked them with.
The momentum swung after the sixtieth minute and it was the U's turn to start applying heavy pressure, T'aizo Marcel Dilaver had the U's first real chance of the game after Kennedy Muremba and Samson Uwandu won the ball high up the pitch. Mupomka passed the ball through to Marcel Dilaver who had a go on the edge of the box but he struck just left of the goal.
The U's had another chance three minutes later, the best chance of the game, this time Marcel Dilaver beats his man on the left flank and puts a beautiful ball into the box, Jamie Arnold got in front of his marker and managed to make contact, once again though the ball flew agonisingly past the post.
In the 85th minute the U's were inches away from winning it, after Marcel Dilaver won a free kick just inside the host's half and Matt Yates put in a beautiful ball that wasn't dealt with at all well by Peterborough, the ball drops for Bailey Berry who had a snap shot along the floor, he got it off and the ball struck the post and went agonisingly out for a goal kick.
Peterborough managed to get the victory with the last kick of the game, the hosts had a free kick and a man over. A ball went in over the top of everyone except the man on the right wing who wasn't picked up. After a perfect touch he let the ball bounce and hit it on the half volley, beating Harrison Chamberlain who had once again performed brilliantly.
A gutting day for Elliot Ward and his side.
Colchester United starting XI: Chamberlain, Yates, James, Aman, Berry, Edwards, Mupomba, Oni, Arnold, Marcel-Dilaver, Uwandu (Price).
Unused Subs: Peglar, Palmer-Brown, Joliffe, Gordon-Clement.