A welcome return to winning ways for our U21s today at Landore. We fielded just 4 players from Monday’s youthful starting XI against Barnsley. Morgan Bates missed out due to a groin injury picked up in that game, so Tom Woodward was pushed forward into the centre forward role, flanked by Josh Pescatore and Caleb Demery. Our central defence and central midfield looked so much stronger today with Iestyn Jones, Dan Watts and Harlan Perry available. Tom Searle, who has been absent all season through injury, was named as one of the substitutes.
Line-up (4-3-3): Tom Wright; Billy Clarke (s – Tom Searle 61m), Iestyn Jones, Blair McKenzie, Callum Deacon; Harlan Perry; Dan Watts (captain) (s – Milo Robinson 46m), Yori Griffith; Josh Pescatore (s – Josiah Kallicharan 61m), Tom Woodward (s – Aimar Govea 46m), Caleb Demery.
Unused subs: Joe Collins (g/k).
We got off to a perfect start, Woodward robbing Colchester’s statuesque centre half Abidekun on the edge of the Colchester area. Tom worked his way into the box, passed to Yori Griffith who set up Josh Pescatore in plenty of space to strike cleanly put the Swans one up on 3 minutes.
Four minutes later we were 2-0 ahead when a cracking cross from Pescatore found Demery, who struck a half-volley home from close range.
We were playing neat football – Perry, Watts and Griffith providing excellent service to our forward line. Another smart move between Watts, Perry and Pescatore allowed Woodward to find room to put us 3-0 up. Our pressing game meant that Colchester had little room to work in, couldn’t really build much and were constantly under pressure. Demery went close on a couple of occasions and then hit the post after a Perry pass gave him the chance to weave his way into close range. Perry himself had a distance shot over and then curled a shot that Colchester keeper Ruddy caught.
It was 4-0 on the half hour when Deacon snatched possession just inside the visitors’ half to allow Griffith an opportunity to run once more at the defence and set up Woodward to stroke home.
Callum Deacon was booked for a mistimed challenge on Colchester’s Kai Lisbie, son of the former Charlton man Kevin. On the other flank, Billy Clarke was dealing capably with the threat posed by quick winger Bently Assiedou, while also getting forward himself.
At half-time, coach Anthony rang the changes, with Milo Robinson and Aimar Govea replacing Dan Watts and Tom Woodward, both of whom had had excellent first halves. Govea started at centre forward until Josiah Kallicharan entered the fray just after the hour. Tom Searle, a long-term absentee, had 30 minutes and a steady return outing at right back.
Colchester also reorganised and appeared much tighter, although Griffith and Govea both had opportunities to extend the lead further.
Kallicharan, who had a tough game on Monday against Barnsley, will take great confidence from robbing Abidekun, and – just managing to stay onside – receiving a return pass from Demery to curl home Swansea’s 5th into the corner of the net on 68 minutes.
The rest of the match was a comparatively even affair. On 75 minutes, Colchester delivered their first shot on target from Ingram that Tom Wright parried away. Lisbie later tested Tom Wright with an effort in the final minutes.
In the later stages, the Swans went down to 9 men through injuries as we’d used our outfield substitutes. Caleb Demery jogged off on 72 minutes with what appeared to be a muscle injury, then on 90 minutes Blair McKenzie appeared to jar his knee in tackling Sasere. He was assisted off and was also booked for his troubles.
Our 9 men saw out added time to claim the deserved win and a clean sheet.
An entertaining match in which our midfield trio of Watts, Perry and Griffith excelled. Big contributions also from Clarke, Iestyn Jones, Pescatore and Woodward to deliver a convincing win.
Colchester were managed by former West Ham centre half Elliott Ward.
Today’s win puts us 3rd in the Professional Development League (South) table. Colchester remain rooted to the bottom at 10th.
Goalscoring: Pescatore 1-0 (3m); Demery 2-0 (7m); Woodward 3-0 (16m); Woodward 4-0 (31m); Kallicharan 5-0 (68m).