LOUIS Dunne returned from injury as Colchester United under-23s finished their Professional Development League Two season with a defeat, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Dunne played 45 minutes against Crewe Alexandra under-23s following a knee injury which has kept him out over recent weeks, while the likes of Diaz Wright and Todd Miller also featured.

But Alex secured the 2-0 win at the JobServe Community Stadium with two goals in six minutes, which took them to second place in the Northern Division table.

Kevin Horlock's side lined up with three more trialists in their squad, at right-back and two in their attack.

Noah Chilvers' 25-yard effort was saved by keeper William Jaaskelainen - the son of former Bolton and West Ham keeper Jussi - early on.

And a minute later, U's striker trialist B got away a left-foot shot which Jaaskelainen again saved and then got away another left-foot effort which went just wide.

Just after the quarter hour mark, a flick on saw Crewe’s Regan Griffiths break clear of the home defence.

But U's keeper Ethan Ross saved well, stretching out a right foot.

Lewis Reilly's first-time attempt flashed just wide soon after, as Crewe pressed.

And five minutes before the break, Reilly's powerful header from Joe Lynch's cross was superbly saved and tipped over the bar at point-blank range by Ross.

The sides went in goal-less at the break but the visitors took the lead ten minutes after half-time through George Ray, who headed in from Lynch's free-kick.

Things got even worse for Colchester, six minutes later.

After the ball was lost in the midfield, Heath's pass allowed Reilly to move on and double Alex's lead, just after the hour mark.

Ross was in the thick of the action once again after that, saving from Reilly and then blocking Heath's follow-up effort.

And despite Harvey Sayer seeing his free-kick saved by Jaaskelainen late on, Colchester were beaten.

Colchester United U23: Ross, Trialist A, Kensdale, A Barnes, Sayer, Miller, Chilvers, Dunne (sub Clampin, 46), D Wright, Trialist B (sub Ager, 77), Trialist C (sub Hyde, 77). Substitute (not used): Coulter.