Colchester 1 Wapping II 4

Division One

Colchester 1 Wapping II 4

COLCHESTER suffered a second straight defeat and a third of the season at home to Wapping seconds. Colchester will be left wondering how they failed to pick up any points from this game as they dominated much of the first half but couldn't find the back of the net.

Colchester started the game well and were unlucky not to open the scoring after six minutes. Mark Kennedy made a good tackle in defence which lead to a quick break for the hosts. Kennedy found Tim Wright who was tackled at the top of the 'D'. The ball fell to Richard Sexton on the right whose cross found a defender's foot in the 'D' to give the first Penalty Corner of the match. Brown's rather tame effort was saved, however the ball found its way to Sexton on the right whose cross this time found Brown in the 'D'. Brown turned and shot only to see his effort cannon of the base of the post and away to safety.

Colchester were having much of the play but were just falling at the final hurdle as they struggled to get the shot off that their good play deserved. Wapping took the lead against the run of play midway through the half. A speculative reverse stick shot was saved by Liam Phillips, however the ball hit a defender's foot and a Penalty Corner was awarded. Wapping opted for a straight strike, which went between Phillips' legs and into the goal.

Colchester were pressing hard and getting some joy down the right. Seb Kolandjian put in a couple of crosses which were just out of reach for the Colchester forwards. Late in the half Colchester almost had an equalizer. A ball in from deep from Mark Kennedy was cleverly deflected by Brian Barker; however Barker's touch took the ball narrowly wide.

In what has become the story of the season Colchester started the second half poorly and the visitors had doubled their advantage within a couple of minutes. A cross was not dealt with by the Colchester defence, which left Phillips with a difficult task. Phillips saved the first effort but the rebound only went straight to another Wapping player, who slotted the ball home.

The visitors were having their best spell of the game and giving Colchester some serious problems. A drag-flick from a penalty corner going narrowly wide and Phillips having to be alert when the Colchester defence allowed a Wapping player to run.

Colchester were struggling to create many chances the best of which fell to Brian Barker whose first time shot after a good run and pass from Kolandjian was saved.

The visitors were gifted a third goal when Michael Pearce made a tackle in the 'D', but then failed to clear his lines as his attempted pass only found another forward at the top of the 'D' who took one touch before firing past Philips. A minute later the visitors had put the game beyond Colchester when the host were caught on the break. Phillips coming out well to take on the attacker, however the ball broke kindly to the attacker who then rounded Phillips before firing past four defenders.

With the game seemingly beyond the hosts, Colchester started to regain some ground. A pass from Pearce deflected wide was the start of Colchester's resurgence. With five minutes left Matt Brown was fouled and awarded a Penalty Corner. Brown stepped up to fire a drag-flick into the roof of the net.

A minute later Colchester had the ball in the back of the net again Matt Low showed some nice skill down the right before finding a pass to Tim Wright, Wright's first effort was blocked before slapping the ball into the goal, however the umpire had already blown for a foul against the Wapping defence and awarded a penalty corner. From the penalty corner Brown flicked the ball low towards Barker, who was close to getting a deflection.

Colchester were still pressing and in the final minute created a couple of chances with Richard Bran flicking at the keeper after a good run into the 'D' and Brown firing a drag-flick wide from another Colchester penalty corner.

Mersea Homes Man of The Match was Mark Kennedy for his solid tackling at the heart of the Colchester defence.