Southend United 2 Colchester United 0, match report: U’s bow out of the Trophy, but Vincent-Young and Szmodics return from injury

Tommy O'Sullivan, left, enjoyed his first start for the U's, in what was only his fourth appearance. Picture: RICHARD BLAXALL (Image: Archant)

Colchester United bowed out of a cup competition for the second time in four days, when sliding to defeat at Southend United in an Essex derby tonight.

The U’s needed to win this Checkatrade Trophy southern group B match to progress into the knock-out stages of the competition, having drawn 2-2 against Reading Under-21s (although they won a penalty shoot-out for a bonus point) and lost 1-0 to Gillingham.

And John McGreal’s men, knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Oxford City 1-0 on Saturday, were always second best against their League One hosts.

Josh Wright broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, with what was his first goal for the Roots Hall club.

Colchester United striker, Sanmi Odelusi, shields the ball from Southend's John White, the former U's defender, during the 2-0 defeat at Roots Hall. Picture: RICHARD BLAXALL (Image: Archant)

And Theo Robinson doubled the Shrimpers lead in the 49th minute with an excellent solo effort to see Southend through to the last 32, along with Gillingham.

On the plus side for Colchester, the duo of Kane Vincent-Young and Sammie Szmodics both returned after injury.

Wing-back Vincent-Young played the full 90 minutes, after three weeks out with a sore hamstring, while midfielder Szmodics appeared as a substitute just after the hour mark following ankle ligament damage.

Southend dominated the first half, and Stephen McGlashan fired a good chance over the top on 12 minutes.

Rene Gilmartin saved well from Nile Ranger on 25 minutes, and seconds later the Shrimpers had appeals for a penalty turned down when Ryan Leonard took a tumble in the box under pressure from Vincent-Young.

But Gilmartin was powerless to prevent Southend from taking the lead. Wright headed home, after Rene Gilmartin had only been able to parry McLaughlin’s effort into the air and into Wright’s path.

However, Gilmartin did ensure that it was only 1-0 at half-time, by superbly pushing away a lethal drive by Timlin.

But Robinson ran through to score a second early in the second half to settle this tie.

Squads

SOUTHEND UNITED: Oxley, Bwomono, White, Turner (sub Ferdinand, 70), Timlin, McGlashan, Wright, Leonard, McLaughlin, Robinson (sub Ba, 73), Ranger (sub Cox, 79). Unused subs: Bishop, Hendrie, Kightly, Yearwood.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gilmartin, James (sub Szmodics, 62), Kent, Eastman, Vincent-Young, Lapslie, Slater (sub Hanlan, 81), Kinsella, O’Sullivan (sub Mandron, 73), Odelusi, Kabamba. Unused subs: Walker, Kpekawa, Inniss, Comley.

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Atendance: 2,781 (150 away fans)

- Colchester United beat Thurrock 4-1 in an Essex Senior Cup third round tie on Monday evening.

The U’s were 1-0 up at half-time, via Goode’s own goal, before George Brown doubled the advantage on 52 minutes.

Nouble pulled a goal back for Thurrock on the hour mark, but Courtney Senior restored the two-goal lead just four minutes later and Eoin McKeown added a fourth in the 72nd minute.

- U’s boss John McGreal has been short-listed for the League Two manager of the month award for October, following three wins out of five and 10 points accrued from a possible 15.

Also on the short-list is Luton Town’s Nathan Jones, Forest Green Rovers’ Mark Cooper and Port Vale’s Neil Aspin.

- U’s striker Mikael Mandron has been short-listed for the League Two player of the month for October, after netting four goals in five games.

Luton’s Luke Berry, Lincoln’s Neil Eardley and Port Vale’s Tom Pope have also been short-listed.