COLCHESTER United's under-18s finished their home Professional Development League Two campaign with a 3-1 defeat after losing to Hull City, writes BRIAN WALLER.

But Chris Llewellyn's side responded well at Florence Park after a testing first-half which saw them trailing by a 3-0 scoreline at the break.

Colchester keeper Chandler Hallett made a good save to deny Macauley Snelgrove down to his left, before getting down to smother the ball as Rob Guilfoyle looked to get onto the rebound.

But the Tigers took the lead through Tommy Best who finished at the near post after Guilfoyle had picked him out with a cross.

Louis Beckett sent a half volley over the bar for the visitors soon after, before a bad minute or so for Colchester then effectively settled the match.

Will Taylor doubled Hull's lead five minutes before the break when he turned in a shot from close range, after Greaves had headed a cross back across goal.

And a minute later, a poor clearance by Hallett eventually saw Louis Bennett fire his shot to the right of the U's keeper.

Colchester trailed by three goals at the break and things looked bleak for the hosts.

Guilfoyle had an effort ruled out for offside early in the second half but with the wind in their favour, the U's saw more of the ball from then on.

Snelgrove sent a back-post header wide and Hallett made a good save at his near post to deny Greaves before Diogo Freitas-Gouveia made his second short cameo appearance of the week for the under-18s.

He has missed most of the season through injury but showed what the team had missed all season with his performance.

Tom Stagg was denied by the Hull keeper before Colchester pulled a goal back, with 21 minutes to go.

After Thomas had sent on a flicked header, Freitas-Gouveia burst clear and sent a powerful drive past the keeper.

Stagg fired into the side netting and only some superb defending by Greaves denied Freitas-Gouveia late on, as Hull claimed victory.

The U's youngsters have finished bottom of their division.

U's under-18: Chandler Hallett, Billy Cracknell, Trialist A, Trialist B, Lordon Akolbire, Sam Cornish, Donell Thomas, Callum Anderson, Marley Miranda, Tom Stagg, Gene Kennedy.

Substitutes: Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, Matty Tricker, Kacy Parish, Josh Fouche, Ted Collins.