Despite going 1-0 up through Kaan Bennett early on in the match, the U’s ended up succumbing to a 2-1 defeat on a windy Friday afternoon in Maldon.
Colchester United U21s were taking on Swansea City in their first home match of 2024. Liam Bailey’s men were going into the clash following a penalty shootout win over Walthamstow FC in the Fourth Round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup three days prior.
Bailey named a much-changed squad compared to Tuesday with three trialists featuring in a young starting eleven who were hoping to end their run of nine consecutive defeats in the Professional Development League.
Chances were few and scarce in the first ten minutes of the game with the only meaningful attempt coming from the visitors who won a dangerous-looking free-kick just outside the box. Their effort, however, flew way over Ted Collins’ crossbar.
Nonetheless, it was the U’s who went ahead after fourteen minutes through a brilliant strike from Kaan Bennett. The forward received the ball thirty yards away from Swansea’s goal, he then took a touch before unleashing a drilling low strike that nestled in the bottom-left corner of the net.
The visitors then started piling more pressure on the U’s and had a couple of decent chances to get back on level terms. Each time, however, Colchester’s defence did well clearing the ball with Collins only forced to make one save in the first twenty-five minutes.
His quick reflexes, however, were required just before the half-hour mark with the U’s keeper making an incredible one-handed diving save.
Unfortunately, less than sixty seconds later Collins couldn’t prevent the equaliser despite making another great save – the visitors, however, were quick on the follow up putting the ball in the back of the net.
The U’s keeper was then forced into a couple more saves before half-time but each time he denied the visitors. This meant that both sides went it at the break with honours even.
The opening fifteen minutes of the second half saw both teams revert to cautious tactics. Chances were hard to come by and with frustration growing one of the U’s trialists became the first player of the match to be booked for kicking the ball away.
Right on the hour mark the visitors had a chance to go ahead following a scramble in the box but they only managed to hit the crossbar.
Three minutes later Bailey opted for his first substitution with Kaleel Green replacing goal scorer Kaan Bennett.
Two more changes followed with fifteen minutes to go as Burak Sabah and Elkanah Akor replaced two trialists.
Despite fresh legs, the U’s ended up conceding with five minutes left on the clock. After losing possession, Frankie Edwards was forced into fouling one of Swansea’s forwards. The defender was booked, and the visitors had a dangerous free kick from around 25 yards.
The initial shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Collins but the visitors managed to convert on a follow-up after a massive scramble in the box.
There wasn’t much time left afterwards with Colchester succumbing to their tenth consecutive defeat in the league.
Colchester United Starting XI: Collins, Trialist, Dyer, Kennedy, Edwards, Aman, Oliver, Trialist, Bennett, Mupomba, Trialist
Subs: Chamberlain, Green, Akor, Sabah, Drysdale
