REPORT BY BRIAN WALLER
Game Five in this season's Youth Alliance League Cup and it was the short trip to Leyton to take on the Orient.

Needing to keep picking up points to maintain their challenge in the competition and reach the knock out stages, they had to overcome the setback of losing Jamie Wright to a head injury after just five minutes, and he was replaced by Sam Corcoran who came on as the sub.

With Jeremiah Olusanya out on loan now at Bishops Stortford, there was a first start in the senior youth squad for Alex O'Leary who played out wide on the left, as he continued his good progress at the club.

Having been well outplayed at Gillingham last week, the visitors had to play a lot better this time out to get a result and that they achieved that on both counts, but they did so after their defence came under strong first half pressure for a good part of the opening period.

They needed to defend resolutely as Orient attacked them hard, but conceded a goal midway through the half with there being a slight suspicion of offside to it.

However on the run of the play, it was probably something that the hosts had deserved.

With Ryan Amass a star in the backline, the U's weathered the storm and after more home attacks in the opening few minutes of the second half, bit by bit the U's themselves began to get more into the game.

The good play then had its rewards as Colchester levelled it up, as Ben Griffiths swung the cross in, and Josh Oakley was on hand to scramble it in at the back post.

The goal provider was then replaced by Adam Bailey-Dennis, as the away team created a few good chances, the best saw another sub Mitchell Nelson go clear, but with a one on one with the keeper, he shot straight at him.

As the game drew to a close it was the home team who finished strongly as once more Colchester had to fight hard to hold on.

Several corners had to be conceded but they managed to keep the O's out and win a precious point.

Both sides had to settle for the draw in a match which either could have won at various stages in it.

The U's now need to keep battling on with a home match to Swindon Town next week, and then it is a visit to take on Yeovil Town in a very long trip down to the West Country.

Team: Jack Smelt, Nathan Speed, Ryan Amass, James Hammond, Ben Griffiths, Jamie Wright, Josh Oakley, Triallist, Alex O`Leary, Russell Malton and Perry Sansford

Used subs: Adam Bailey-Dennis, Mitchell Nelson and Sam Corcoran