Latics U21 fall to a 2-1 defeat against Colchester United U21 on Wednesday afternoon
- U21 Report | Latics 1 Colchester United 2
- Despite a valiant performance, ten-men Latics fall to a defeat at Christopher Park
- Joe Adams was on target for the Young Tics, though first-half goals from Donell Thomas and Samson Tovide were enough to hand the visitors all three points
Wigan Athletic U21s were narrowly edged out 2-1 by Colchester United U21s at Christopher Park on Wednesday afternoon.
The visitors raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of strikes from Donell Thomas and Samson Tovide, before Latics striker Chris Sze was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Lordan Akolbire.
In a much improved second-half performance, ten-man Latics rallied together and pulled a goal back through substitute Joe Adams, though they had sadly left themselves with too much to do and they fell to a defeat in the Professional Development League encounter.
Latics came into the game with the determination to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat at reigning PDL South champions Ipswich Town, and they made five changes from their trip to East Anglia. Joe Winstanley, Steven Sumner, Harry McHugh, Youssef Chentouf and Joe Rodwell-Grant all came into the starting XI for Charlie Hughes, James Carragher, Scott Smith, Abdi Sharif and Josh Stones.
It was the visitors, in-fact, who flexed their muscles when Kyran Henderson lofted a ball over the top for Zidane Sutherland to latch onto, but Latics goalkeeper Owen Mooney was quick off his line to shut down the danger.
Colchester United went ahead just three minutes after their early sighting on goal when Thomas provided a close-range finish from a right-sided cross.
A loose pass out of the Latics defence almost allowed the U’s to add an immediate second, but Tovide’s low effort was denied by the feet of Mooney.
Tovide was, however, not to be denied and he doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 16th minute when he chased down a long ball over the top and lifted his effort over the onrushing Mooney.
To their credit, Latics almost pulled an immediate goal back when Chentouf raced onto a brilliant defence-splitting pass from McHugh, but under heavy pressure from the U’s defender, he blasted his effort wide of the target.
The home side were then reduced to ten men just after the hour mark when Sze was penalised for a late tackle on U’s defender Akolbire.
The final significant opportunity of the first half fell the way of the visitors when substitute Kai Redgrave benefitted from an unfortunate ricochet, but his snapshot effort flew wide of the far post.
Latics made a triple change at half-time in an attempt to find a way back into the game, and Adams helped the Young Tics make the perfect start to the second period when he pulled a goal back in the 47th minute. Chentouf did brilliantly to reach the byline and his outstanding cross was headed into the top corner by Adams.
Frankie Terry had the game’s next significant opportunity in the 57th minute when he created half a yard to shoot from the edge of the area, but his stinging effort was pushed over the crossbar by Mooney.
With Latics giving everything to try and find the leveller despite the numerical disadvantage, resolute defending prevented any real chances falling the way of the home side, and Colchester held on to claim all three points at Christopher Park.
Latics: Mooney, Winstanley (Mitchell 45), Lloyd (Capt), Sumner (Adams 45), Dwyer; Adeeko, McHugh; Chentouf, Sze, Brennan; Rodwell-Grant (Stones 45).
Subs: Watson, Grewal.