01 Aug #Colchester United beaten 2-0 at #Southend in their final pre-season game
By David Gregory
The hosts opened the scoring on twelve minutes when Simon Cox scored from the spot, after Lewis Kinsella had fouled Jermaine McGlashan.
Southend doubled their lead on twenty four minutes, with former U’s striker David Mooney slotting home into the bottom corner.
The second half was quieter in terms of goalmouth action and the U’s couldn’t breach the home defence.
The game started with the hosts on top, and they were denied early when Luke Prosser blocked a Mooney effort.
That came on three minutes, and three later, Atkinson headed over the U’s bar from a Demetriou cross.
Mooney then shot straight at Sam Walker with nine on the clock, as the U’s struggled to get a real foothold in the game.
The pressure told and they were ahead on twelve minutes.
McGlashan beat Kinsella to a ball down the right and the U’s full back’s challenge was deemed a foul and the ref pointed to the spot.
Cox stepped up and calmly put his penalty to Walker’s left to give Southend the lead they probably deserved.
On twenty minutes, there was another scare for the U’s as Walker misjudged a punch and his defenders on the line cleared the danger.
It was 2-0 four minutes later though, as Mooney slotted his shot into the bottom corner after a great through ball from Cox.
The first danger at the other end came when Richard Brindley’s cross was deflected wide, and Adam Barrett then had to be sharp to beat Tom Eastman to the corner.
Doug Loft tried his luck from distance in the thirty second minute, but Ted Smith watched it safely past his left hand post.
Will Atkinson, who was enjoying himself in the Southend midfield, had the final chance of the half, but he could only shoot straight at Walker after another good move down the Southend left.
Half time saw Dion Sembie-Ferris introduced for Drey Wright and two minutes into the second half, John McGreal had to make another change.
Owen Garvan was fouled by Atkinson, who was booked, and had to be replaced by Craig Slater in the heart of the U’s midfield.
After a brief stop in play to allow treatment for Garvan. Loft’s shot from the edge of the box was straight at Smith.
On fifty eight minutes, Sammie Szmodics got on the end of a Sembie-Ferris pass but found Barrett in his way.
Porter’s header a minute later was cleared off the line and Sembie-Ferris’ shot was safely held by Smith.
Macauley Bonne and Kurtis Guthrie replaced Loft and Dickenson on the hour, as the U’s looked for a way back into the game.
Before either could have a touch, Mooney headed over from a wide free kick.
Mooney had the next effort as well, but was denied by a sharp save from Walker before Barrett volleyed the rebound over the top.
Denny Johnstone came on for Porter on seventy minutes, and then Kane Vincent-Young replaced Kinsella eight minute later.
There wasn’t any meaningful action in the following minutes, and Frankie Kent was next to enter the fray, coming on for Eastman on eighty two minutes.
A minute later, Szmodics curled a shot just over the bar, after subs Sembie-Ferris and Vincent-Young combined.
Guthrie then bought out a good save from Smith, who had to dive left to palm away the effort from the former Forest Green man.
That was the final chance of the game, with the U’s having a clear week now ahead of the opening game against Hartlepool in seven days.
