BY BRIAN WALLER

UNDER-23

CARDIFF CITY 2

COLCHESTER UNITED 1

THE U’s made the long trip to South Wales to take on a City side who had beaten them 2-0 earlier in the season at Florence Park.

After a good early burst down the right wing by Michael Fernandes, Cardiff’s Mark Harris responded with a shot from the edge of the area but it went wide of the far post.

Home defender Jack Bodenham cleared a Colchester cross before the home team took the lead when Harris weaved his way into the U’s box before he cleverly put the chance away at the far post, after 17 minutes.

The home team went close again as Shamar Moore was denied by keeper Callum Coulter, who saved under pressure.

Then, just after the half-hour mark, there was another goal for Harris, who put his side 2-0 ahead after some fine build-up play and he netted with a superb finish from a position inside the area.

Having lost 7-0 at the venue last season, Colchester were hoping things would not be so bad this time but they survived the rest of the half without conceding any more goals.

After the interval, Sion Spence went close for the home team on 56 minutes but, just after the hour-mark, substitute Sammie McLeod was so unlucky not to have scored but he was denied by a superb save from home keeper Matt Hall.

A minute after that and there was a first City change as Trystan Jones replaced Danny Williams.

Soon after, Jake Evans was on for Spense.

Around the mid-point in the half, the U’s were putting on the pressure as home keeper Hall was forced into a whole series of saves.

Finally, the U’s efforts were rewarded as Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was on hand to score from close range from inside the six-yard box to give Colchester some late hope, after 79 minutes.

However, despite three minutes of stoppage time, the home team held on to secure all three points.

Cardiff City: Matt Hall, Laurence Wootton, Ben Margetson, Jack Bodenham, Ryan Pryce, Taviq D’Almeida, Sion Spense, Danny Williams, Keenan Patten, Mark Harris and Shamar Moore. Subs: Trystan Jones and Jake Evans. Uused subs: Burwood, Chiabi and Colwill

Colchester United: Callum Coulter, Miguel Scarlett, Ollie Kensdale, Matt Weaire, Harvey Sayer, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Louis Dunne, Michael Fernandes, Tariq Issa, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and Jake Hutchinson. Subs: Sammie McLeod and Luke Ige. Unused subs: Chandler Hallett and Ben Allen.