COLCHESTER UNITED TRAINING SESSION LIVE
Goal in each half enough for victory.The U's notched a 2-1 victory at Maldon & Tiptree on Friday night in one of their most keenly contested friendlies to date.
Goals from Freddie Sears - his fourth of pre-season - and Drey Wright ensured a third win of the pre-season build-up for John Ward's men.
Goals from Freddie Sears - his fourth of pre-season - and Drey Wright ensured a third win of the pre-season build-up for John Ward's men.
The U's manager has opted to split his squad in half in terms of match time for this fixture and the game at Brentwood on Saturday - although all of the squad were in attendance on Friday for the first of the double header as the boss maintains a united spirit.
The U's started the game in bright fashion, conjuring up a number of chances in the early stages. First, Clinton Morrison struck a shot on the angle and just past the far post before a minute later a low cross from the right almost created an own goal with a sliced clearance.
The U's started the game in bright fashion, conjuring up a number of chances in the early stages. First, Clinton Morrison struck a shot on the angle and just past the far post before a minute later a low cross from the right almost created an own goal with a sliced clearance.
On the quarter hour mark, Karl Duguid arrived at the far post to meet a Michael Rose cross, but he could only bundle the ball into the grateful goalkeeper's arms.
But the U's pressure eventually told as Tom Aldred's cross on the right found Morrison and his shot back across goal was converted at close range by Freddie Sears.
The home side tested Carl Pentney in the U's goal not long afterwards though, as Robinson's fierce shot was well held by the U's keeper. Then Robinson would probably feel he could have done better on 21 minutes, ghosting free at the far post at a corner, but nodding his header wide.
Midway through the half, Morrison made space well in the box, but hooked his effort on the turn over the crossbar.
Tom Eastman headed an effort that looped just over the woodwork ten minutes before half time, before Drey Wright stung the hands of keeper Joe Wright with a shot from the edge of the box.
The young winger was not to be denied, though, scoring five minutes after the interval.
He was given space 25 yards out and picked his spot as he fizzed one in past the helpess Maldon keeper into the upper reaches of the net.
Chances became a little more restricted as the half wore on but Morrison's cheeky effort - reminiscent of Danny Welbeck's goal on the spin in the Euros - was saved just about by Wright.
The home side were starting to see more of the ball now and got a goal back with seventeen minutes remaining.
A patient move down the left saw Das bundle home at the near post to reduce the deficit to one.
It gave the hosts hope, but the U's saw the remaining time out without too many more problems to notch another victory on a good workout for the team.
U's: Pentney, Aldred, Eastman, Heath, Rose, Duguid, Izzet, Gilbey (Hamilton 60), Wright (Olufemi 60), Sears, Morrison