COLCHESTER United under-18s lost 3-1 at home to Bristol City in their final Professional Development League Two match of the season, writes BRIAN WALLER.

The likes of Samson Tovide and Harvey Sayer featured for the U's in their match, at Maldon and Tiptree FC.

The impressive Sayer caused plenty of problems for Bristol City throughout, linking up well with the Colchester attack.

Trying his luck from distance, the U's went close and a bit of a deflection took the ball away for a corner.

And the U’s had a bit of good luck as mis-control by them saw the City player burst clear and into the box, before he was halted by a very good home tackle.

Sayer's surging run forward then found Redgrave on the right, but a half block on his shot took the sting out of the attempt and it was then to be a comfortable save for the Robins keeper.

But totally against the run of the play, the visitors went ahead.

First a cross from the right was turned home on the back post, in the 41st minute.

Colchester instantly responded and Sayer saw his powerful drive from the edge of the box beaten away by the Bristol City keeper.

But play then switched to the other end and it resulted in the U's conceding a second goal.

Out of his box, keeper Johnson tried to clear and saw his effort blocked by a Robins player.

The loose ball ran to his team-mate who coolly lifted the ball back into an empty net from 25 yards out.

After being 2-0 down at the interval, Colchester started the second half strongly and turned on the pressure right from the restart.

Parish’s effort was held by the keeper while Sayer, out on the right now, saw a left-foot effort deflect wide of the near post after he had cut inside.

Sayer delivery was held at the near post by the City keeper after more good build up play while seconds later, he sent a low ball wide of the far post.

Colchester looked for a way back into the game and Tovide's great burst into the box gave them hope but he was well tackled and nobody could get on the end of the loose ball in the area.

Tovide then lifted his shot over the bar before the U’s efforts were rewarded when a ball in from the left was forced in by Kacy Parish, with nine minutes remaining.

But with Colchester pressing forward, they were caught by the sucker punch in stoppage-time.

Although initially the forward was halted by a home defender, the ball ran free and the shot by the City substitute found the net despite Johnson’s getting hands to it.

Meanwhile, Colchester under-23s lost 2-1 at Coventry City, in their latest Professional Development League Two match.

It was a tenth defeat in a row for the development squad after they travelled to meet a Sky Blues team who had won their previous match 6-1 at Cardiff City.

The hosts began the match on top and were awarded a penalty after a foul in the area on Joe Newton early in the game and Jordan Young duly put away the resulting spot-kick, after 16 minutes.

Minutes later Fabio Tavares cut the ball back for Will Bapaga to make it 2-0, two minutes later.

However the U’s fought back well and midway through the half captain and home keeper Tom Billson made a very good save from the U’s striker.

The half ended with Young being denied by the Colchester keeper.

After the break City remained in control of the match and Newton was denied by an excellent save by the U’s keeper.

After a fine run, Tavares saw his shot saved before the visitors got a goal back with a finish from close range with 16 minutes remaining.

However, Colchester were unable to force an equaliser as they slipped to defeat.