Ipswich Town lost 5-2 at Colchester United in an Under-23 fixture this afternoon.

Decarrey Sheriff scored a hat-trick, while Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe bagged a brace for the Essex hosts at their Florence Park training base in Tiptree.

The Blues, playing in front of first team boss Mick McCarthy, were only 1-0 down at the break and equalised soon after the restart through Ben Folami.

Three goals in 13 minutes – capped by an acrobatic Ogedi-Uzokwe effort – saw the U’s take firm control though before Shane McLoughlin stabbed home a late consolation.

Barry Cotter, the 19-year-old right-back Town signed on transfer deadline day from Irish club Limerick, made his first competitive appearance for the club.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old striker Ben Stephens – who is on trial from Stratford Town – was given his first outing, while 20-year-old attacking midfielder Mohammed Sagaf – on trial from Waltham Forest – was handed another chance to impress. Gerrard Nash’s men, who had only lost three league games prior to this, fall further behind leaders Crystal Palace in the Professional Development League South table.

IPSWICH: Wright, McLoughlin, Cotter, Goteni, Clements, Sagaf, Nydam, Stephens, Morris, Drinan, Folami. Subs: El Mizouni, Hayes, McGavin, Dobra, Marshall.

COLCHESTER: Kurasik, Kpekawa, W Wright, Diaz Wright, Rooney, Allarakhia, Gondoh, Dickenson, Issa, Sheriff, Ogedi-Uzokwe. Subs: Collins, Krasniqi, Edge, Wilson.