Colchester United’s under-21s were beaten 1-0 at home by their Bristol City counterparts this afternoon.

A late goal by substitute Marley Bishop gave the Robins victory in the Professional Development League Two match at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The likes of Tom Lapslie, Sammie Szmodics, Macauley Bonne and Jack Marriott all started for the U’s, while Ben Burgess got another chance to impress on trial from Norwich City.

Szmodics and Byron Lawrence both went close for Colchester, in a goal-less first half.

Robins keeper David Richards denied Kane Vincent-Young just after the break while Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ fierce shot crashed against the underside of the crossbar for the visitors.

Bishop raced clear of the Colchester defence and finished calmly past Chris Lewington with 13 minutes remaining, to break the deadlock.

And although both Bonne and U’s substitute Kieran Bailey warmed Richards’ gloves near the end, the U's youngsters fell to defeat.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Lewington, Vincent-Young, Olufemi, Harney (sub James, 74), Burgess, Lapslie (sub Harrison, 55), Lawrence, Szmodics (sub Bailey, 58), Sembie-Ferris, Marriott, Bonne.

Substitutes (not used): Curtis, Bailey.