Report | U's Lose At Wrexham

A goal in either half saw the U's beaten 2-1 at Wrexham in the final away game before Christmas.

The U's were a goal down early on when Elliot Lee found the net from close range, just four minutes into the contest. 

Wrexham were reduced to ten men before the break with George Evans dismissed for a nasty challenge on Cameron McGeehan, but the red card failed to disrupt the promotion-chasing side. 

It was 2-0 midway through the second period after Zach Mitchell sliced the ball into his own goal; Jayden Fevrier bagged a late consolation as the U's were beaten. 

Matty Etherington named only one change to the U’s starting line-up, after Samson Tovide’s injury against Crawley Town last weekend; Noah Chilvers came in to take his place, skippering the side in North Wales.

The U’s made a change to their formation, starting with a 4-2-3-1. Owen Goodman was in goal, behind a back four of Egbo, Mitchell, Kelleher and Greenidge. Cam McGeehan and Arthur Read were the sitting midfielders, with Jay, Chilvers and Fevrier just behind the lone striker of Joe Taylor.

It was a tough opening five minutes for Colchester, who found themselves a goal down early on. Ben Tozer’s long throw wasn’t cleared properly, as former U’s man, and Wrexham top scorer, Elliot Lee bundled the ball in at the back post.

The U’s responded well to the goal, and had some good attacking play in the next ten minutes. Jayden Fevrier stung the palms of Howard, with Joe Taylor also testing the Wrexham ‘keeper.

And Colchester were handed a lifeline when the hosts were reduced to ten men with less than half an hour played. George Evans had already been booked for a late challenge on Arthur Read, but was shown a straight red card for a nasty foul On Cam McGeehan right under the nose of the referee.

The U’s pressed on and had plenty of possession, but struggled to create a meaningful chance in front of goal before the break. James McClean was shown a yellow card after a confrontation with Mandela Egbo, with the score 1-0 at half time.

Matty Etherington opted not to make any changes at the break, but there was one for the hosts with Jones coming on for Sam Dalby in a defensive change.

Paul Mullin had the first chance of the half, less than sixty seconds after the restart. He managed to escape his marker, pulling the trigger with a shot that was straight at the chest of U’s ‘keeper Owen Goodman.

Arthur Read had to be alert a second soon after, clearing away from the line after Goodman had been caught in a group of players from Tozer’s long throw, but the U’s managed to clear to keep the deficit to one.

Colchester made changes with half hour to play with Matt Jay and Will Greenidge replaced by John Akinde and Ellis Iandolo, making his second league outing of the season after picking up a knock early on in the campaign at Bradford City.

However, the hosts scored the next goal of the game, extending their advantage. James McClean’s cross proved difficult for the U’s as Zach Mitchell sliced the ball beyond Goodman and into the corner of the net with twenty to play.

Brad Ihionvien came on for the last five minutes of the game, replacing Noah Chilvers. Colchester got a late strike to make the seven minutes of added time interesting with Jayden Fevrier slotting home after McGeehan's header was saved, but it was too little, too late for the U's. 

The 2-1 loss sees the U's remain in twenty-second, hosting Salford City at the JobServe Community Stadium on Friday evening. 

Wrexham starting XI: Howard, Tozer, Mullin (Palmer 87'), Evans, O’Connell (Boyle 80'), Dalby (Jones 46’), Mendy, Cannon, O’Connor, McClean, Lee (Davies 87').

Subs: McNicholas, Davies, Palmer, Forde, Boyle, Bickerstaff, Jones.

Colchester United starting XI: Goodman, Greenidge (Iandolo 61’), Kelleher, Jay (Akinde 61’), Chilvers (Ihionvien 85'), McGeehan, Mitchell, Read, Egbo, Taylor, Fevrier.

Subs: Hornby, Iandolo, Hopper, Akinde, Nelson, Cooper, Ihionvien.

Attendance: 9,746 (665)