Fleetwood Town’s Under-18s fell to a 3-0 defeat to Colchester United on the road at the weekend as they faced the side at Maldon Stadium.

It was a first-half to forget for the young Cods as they found themselves a goal down seven minutes into the game as the home side’s number 11, Samson Uwandu, was played through and calmly slotted past the hesitant Ollie Bellizia.

Not long after, Colchester were on the attack again and managed to double their lead as a free-kick, conceded by Rafaele Cirino, was floated into the Town box where Andrew Palmer-Brown lost his man in the box and passed it into the back of the net.

The U’s made it three just before the break when a cross from the left side flashed across the face of goal, which Jayden Hughes looks to have dealt with, but Ewan Gordon-Clement was there to tap in from close range to make it 3-0 on the day.

With three changes being made at half-time by Mark Yeates – bringing Conor Haughey, Pele Smith, and Hermann Daha on – the side looked to have taken hold of the game as they looked to shrink the deficit before the end of the game.

Unfortunately, Town weren’t able to beat the Colchester number-one and, with Crispin McLean being sent off late on for an off-the-ball incident, it was a day to forget for the Under-18s – all eyes are now on the next clash against Blackpool in the PDL Cup.

Town XI: Bellizia (GK), Cirino, Trialist (Haughey 46’), Elmore (Smith 46’), Hughes (C), Butterworth, Richmond (Daha 46’), Namputu, Lane, McLean, Roberts.