Colchester United U21s were taking on Bristol City in a Professional Development League clash at Park Drive in Maldon on a cold Friday evening.
Matty Etherington was back in charge with Liam Bailey also by his side. The coaching duo named a strong starting eleven with the likes of Tom Smith and Owura Edwards coming out for the first forty-five minutes.
The first ten minutes of the match saw both teams battle for possession in the middle of the park with chances few and scarce.
The U’s utilised the flanks well with Oscar Thorn and Owura Edwards tormenting the opposition’s defence from the very start.
And that persistence on the wings paid off with exactly ten minutes on the clock when a cross was converted by Kaleel Green from five yards. The forward remained composed and placed the ball into the net beating the ‘keeper.
Eight minutes later, the U’s caught out Bristol City on the opposite side of the pitch with Edwards phenomenally sprinting thirty yards on the left flank before playing a low ball into Archie Oliver's path who beat the 'keeper with a low shot.
Both teams composed themselves following the two quick goals with the visitors eventually gaining more possession but failing to seriously worry Smith in goal.
With fifteen minutes left in the first half, Marley Marshall Miranda was forced off the pitch in worrying scenes and was replaced by Bayan Aman.
Two minutes later the visitors managed to get a goal back after a great through ball saw one of their forwards one-on-one with Smith.
But with five minutes to go, the U’s extended their lead to two goals again when Marcel-Dilaver was brought down by the Robins’ goalkeeper in the box following a brilliant run and pass from Oscar Thorn.
Marcel-Dilaver took the responsibility into his own hands and converted with ease sending the ‘keeper the wrong way.
This meant that the youngsters went in at half-time leading by three goals to nil.
It was a blistering start to the second half from the U’s who found themselves leading 5-1 after fifty minutes.
Both of the goals came from Kaleel Green who entertained the audience at Maldon & Tiptree with a fantastic hat-trick. Firstly, heavy press from Archie Oliver paid off with the midfielder dispossessing Bristol’s defence before laying off the ball to Kaleel who converted with ease.
Less than sixty seconds later, the forward had another goal to his name after catching out the visitors’ goalkeeper from some distance.
With nearly an hour on the clock, Bristol City had their second after a low volley caught Smith out, but despite their efforts, it never looked like the visitors were going to get back into the match.
And, their hopes of doing that were further squashed by Kenny Mupomba who smashed the ball into the back of the net with a drilling effort on seventy-three minutes.
The U’s persisted for the rest of the match but failed to find another goal with the scoreline remaining at an impressive 6-2.
Colchester United Starting XI: 1. Smith, 3. Miranda, 4. Lowe, 5. Edwards, 6. Berry, 7. Oliver, 8. Trialist, 9. Green, 10. Edwards, 11. Marcel-Dilaver, 14. Thorn
Subs: Collins, Mupomba, Aman, Trialist, Trialist
