Under-23s see off Colchester

A fine performance from our Under-23s saw League Two side Colchester United dispatched 3-1 in our latest pre-season friendly at Hotspur Way on Tuesday afternoon.

Kazaiah Sterling’s persistence was rewarded with the opener in the first half before midfielder Jack Roles netted his third goal in as many games five minutes after the interval.

The excellent Josh Oluwayemi couldn’t quite stop Ryan Clampin’s shot from squirming over the line as Colchester pulled one back, but central midfielder Nile John made sure of the victory in stoppage time with a fine strike from the edge of the box.

Shilow Tracey found the side netting and Jonathan De Bie made a couple of useful stops for us in the opening stages, while George Marsh ventured forward and latched onto Roles’ raking pass from deep, but fired wide after setting himself up to shoot.

Sterling was getting into good areas and after having a shot blocked before steering an acrobatic attempt over the bar, his close-range effort under pressure from Tracey’s driven centre somehow hit the bar with the goal gaping mid-way through the first half. Courtney Senior’s free-kick hit the top of the net for Colchester, but Sterling finally found the back of the net on 37 minutes when he bundled in another low Tracey cross from six yards.

Tracey was denied by the goalkeeper as half-time approached while Oluwayemi’s bravery led to a couple of vital saves as Colchester tried to mount a comeback. Following one such intervention, we went on the attack and Sterling laid the ball forward for Roles to plant home a shot from 16 yards low into the corner – a clean, well-taken strike with 50 minutes played.

Jubril Okedina’s excellent last-ditch block in the box at the other end prevented a goal for the visitors, but they did manage to find a way past Oluwayemi on 76 minutes when Clampin latched onto a good cross from the right at the back post and his shot crept over the line, the goalkeeper unlucky not to keep it out having got himself largely in the way of it.

Dilan Markanday’s effort was saved three minutes later, with Roles’ follow-up blocked on the line, while Maurizio Pochettino’s shot was tipped over the bar in stoppage time. The resulting corner wasn’t dealt with, though, with the ball cleared only as far as substitute John, who hammered home from the edge of the area in the 92nd minute to seal an impressive win.