Crewe Alexandra Under 18’s were outgunned by Colchester United 3-1 at Reaseheath, with the three U’s strikes coming inside the opening half an hour.

A Connor Heath second half header did give Crewe a route back into the game, but wasteful finishing thereafter scuppered any hopes of rescuing a result.

The U’s opening the score inside five minutes via an attack down the left flank. Crewe had several chances to clear, but the Colchester man nipped round a defender & fired low into the bottom corner.

The visitors were two to the good on 20 minutes, a mix-up by goalkeeper Will Appleyard & Regan Griffiths allowed the striker in on goal to coolly slot into the corner.

Two became three on the half hour, a superb strike from a U’s midfielder from 25-yards sailing over Appleyard & into the roof of the net.

After a stern talking to at half-time, Crewe re-emerged with purpose & vigour and struck back five minutes into the second period, Heath heading home a left-wing corner-kick.

Pressing hard throughout the second 45, Alex Hurst, Luke Walsh & Griffiths all missed good chances for Crewe as Colchester held on for all three points.

Crewe: Appleyard, T.Johnson, Harrison (Offord), Barlow, Adebisi, Walsh, Griffiths, Heath, Hurst, Lomas (Lynch), C.Johnson (Linton)