Colchester United have suffered a 4-1 defeat to high-flying Barrow, with the visitors securing all three points courtesy of four second half goals.
Colchester United lined up with five changes to the eleven that started against Peterborough in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy; Dallison, Tovide, McGeehan, Taylor and Fevrier all back into the starting line-up.
They took the places of Kelleher, Hopper, Mingi, Cooper and Ihionvien, while goalkeeper Owen Goodman missed out altogether with an ankle injury.
Tom Smith was looking for his second clean sheet this week at the JobServe Community Stadium, and was protected by a defensive line of Greenidge, Dallison, Egbo, Mitchell and Fevrier. Cam McGeehan, Arthur Read and Noah Chilvers played in the centre of midfield, as Joe Taylor returned from international duty to line up alongside Samson Tovide in attack.
The opening ten minutes brought little goalmouth action for either side, other than Noah Chilvers tossing in a free kick that was comfortably nodded away from the danger-zone – Luca Stephenson picked up an early booking for the visitors.
Tom Dallison was on hand for an important clearance for the U’s as Barrow tried to gain some momentum in the contest, but it was the home side that got their noses in front with Cameron McGeehan getting his fifth of the season.
Jayden Fevrier got the better of his man on the right flank, cutting inside to shoot. Paul Farman, the Barrow ‘keeper, was unable to hold the effort with McGeehan pouncing on the spill to tap home from close range in the twenty-first minute.
A couple of contentious decisions came before half time – with Proctor lucky not to see a card of any colour for an elbow in the face of Tom Dallison. Cam McGeehan was then harshly shown a yellow card after seemingly winning the ball from Ray in a dangerous position for the U’s.
Another booking followed, this time for Dom Telford of the visitors who sprinted after the referee to contest a goal kick decision. He was rightly booked as the visitors started to get frustrated by the game.
In the four minutes of injury time the U’s had a golden chance to double their advantage, but couldn’t make it count. Arthur Read released Samson Tovide with an excellent through ball, with the Colchester number nine squaring it to Taylor. The Welsh forward couldn’t find the target with Farman pulling off a good double save.
It was a fiery end to the half after Tovide and Proctor were both booked after an altercation, with the Barrow boss Pete Wild dismissed for confronting the referee.
Robbie Gotts was replaced at half time in a concussion sub for the visitors, with Tom White coming on in his place.
But the U’s were soon pegged back in the contest, with Will Greenidge unlucky to see the ball cannon off the bar and in off him seven minutes into the second half.
A chance soon came at the other end for Colchester through, with Joe Taylor releasing Cam McGeehan through the middle. The Northern Irish international did the hard work by rounding the ‘keeper, but couldn’t apply the finish under pressure from the Barrow defence.
Barrow made a triple change with twenty minutes to play, with Chester, Stephenson and Telford replaced by Feely, Worrall and Acquah, as the U’s replaced Tovide with Ihionvien.
Jamie Proctor soon left the field, replaced by Ben Whitfield in an attacking change for the visitors with thirteen minutes to play.
Another chance came and went for the U’s as Farman made another important save for the visitors. Noah Chilvers made his way through the Barrow defence, with the Bluebirds’ ‘keeper bailing them out once again with a fine save.
And it proved to be vital for the visitors, with George Ray netting at the other end with four minutes to play. Tom Smith looked like he was being held from a corner, with the Barrow man netting on the rebound to make it 2-1 late on.
Barrow added a third and fourth late on through George Ray and another U's own goal.
Colchester United starting XI: Smith, Greenidge, Dallison, Tovide (Ihionvien 76’), Chilvers, McGeehan, Mitchell, Read, Egbo, Taylor, Fevrier.
Subs: Collins, Kelleher, Jay, Hopper, Kennedy, Cooper, Ihionvien.
Barrow AFC: Farman, Campbell, Ray, Canavan, Spence, Proctor (Whitfield 77’), Newby, Gotts (White 46’), Chester (Feely 72’), Stephenson (Worrall 72’), Telford (Acquah 72’).
Subs: Lillis, Worrall, White, Acquah, Feely, Whitfield.
Attendance: TBC