After the confidence boosting friendly win at Wivenhoe during the week, the U's were brought down to earth with a heavy defeat in their opening match of the new Puma Youth Alliance League campaign.

The season in fact began in the same mode as it had finished last season with a big loss at Wycombe.

REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER
In a match played at Bisham Abbey, nothing came from an early Sam Corcoran free kick, but moments later it was Wanderers taking the lead, as they scored from a corner kick.

It was the home side going close again after 25 minutes, as the effort flew just over the bar.

However a couple of minutes short of the half hour mark, the sides were level at 1-1.

Jeremiah Olusanya sent in a cross which Ben Griffiths got on the end to make it all square.

But then it went wrong in the ten minutes or so leading up to the half time break. Stung by their setback Wycombe really came onto the U's team, who came under immense pressure.

On 40 minutes they took the lead again and then, despite an excellent save by keeper Jack Smelt, the resulting corner was headed in, to give the hosts a 3-1 advantage at half time.

Things got no better after the interval, as within the first quarter of an hour the lead was stretched to 5-1, with a home player netting both goals, to complete his hat trick.

Substitutions came soon after that which saw Perry Sansford and Kyelan Marvell on for Josh Oakley and Mitchell Nelson.

With 17 minutes left on the clock, the last change saw midweek hat-trick hero Jimmy Pirie on for Fabian Quintyn.

Finally Colchester at last got their game together and began to play a lot better.

As a bit of confidence came back into their game, an Olusanya effort went close before the home side's hat trick hero blotted his copy book a bit, by also incurring the wrath of the referee, to win himself a yellow card.

Now into the closing minutes of the action and it was Pirie who had to watch as he saw his shot go narrowly wide of the post.

A disappointing beginning for the team, but it is the start of a long season, and there is plenty of time to get things right in the forthcoming weeks.

Team: Jack Smelt, Nathan Speed, Mitchell Nelson, James Hammond, Ben Griffiths, Sam Corcoran, Adam Bailey-Dennis, Russell Malton, Jeremiah Olusanya, Josh Oakley and Fabian Quintyn, with used subs: Perry Sansford, Kyelan Marvell and Jimmy pirie and unused sub: Ryan Amass

Other results - Brentford 1-0 Barnet, Gillingham 0-2 Leyton Orient, Luton Town 3-3 Southend United, Portsmouth 0-1 QPR, Rushden 2-2 Northampton