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Colchester United 0-3 Town
Wednesday, 23rd Jul 2014 21:19

Frank Nouble struck twice and Jack Marriott once as Town beat Colchester United 3-0 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. All the goals came in the second half after a lacklustre first period from the Blues.

Town, wearing their new orange away kit for the first time, started with ex-Colchester man Dean Gerken in goal, Elliott Hewitt at right-back, Tyrone Mings on the left and Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra at the centre of the defence.

In central midfield, another ex-U’s man Anthony Wordsworth began the game alongside Luke Hyam with Alex Henshall on the left and Paul Anderson on the right. Daryl Murphy was partnered by Frank Nouble up front.

Missing was Stephen Hunt, who is still suffering with his calf problem, Ted Bishop, who has a minor knock, and David McGoldrick, who is not yet ready for a return to match action as he continues his rehab after his knee injuries.

Hungarian trialist Bálint Bajner was amongst the substitutes.

Colchester included ex-Blue Darren Ambrose, who is on trial, while Tom Eastman started and David Wright was on the bench along with Drey Wright, the son of Jermaine Wright.

Freddie Sears hit a third-minute freekick just over Gerken’s cross bar after Wordsworth had fouled Alex Gilbey just outside the box. A minute later Gilbey spectacularly volleyed high and wide after an Ambrose cross had deflected out to him.

The home side continued to have the better of the early chances, Dan Holman, a recent signing from Braintree, hitting a sixth minute strike just wide.


Anderson ought to have put the Blues in front on nine when Hyam broke quickly following a U’s corner. The midfielder fed Nouble, who crossed to the far post where a diving Anderson headed wide from close range.

Neither side particularly threatened as the game moved beyond the 20-minute mark, but with Colchester looking more of a danger than the Blues until Wordsworth flicked a Henshall cross from the left just wide.

The U’s had a golden change to go in front in the 26th minute when Ambrose crossed low from the left but neither Sears nor Dominic Vose could get a touch on the edge of the six-yard box.

Five minutes before the whistle, Henshall lashed over from distance after a clever bit of skill from Nouble had raised a rare round of applause from the large Town following behind the goal.

It had been a disappointing half from the Blues with Colchester having had the better of it overall. Both sides missed their one decent opportunity but it was the U’s - with Ambrose having sent in a couple of dangerous crosses - who had threatened more regularly with Town unable to make their greater quality show.

Having switched their entire XI in their previous friendlies, the Blues made only one change at half-time, keeper Gerken making way for recent signing Bartosz Bialkowski.

Henshall hit a left-foot an early shot just wide of the far post with Anderson not close enough to add an additional touch.

On 52 Mings struck a shot which hit one of his own players and flew wide following a Henshall corner, then the Blues full-back was sent away on the left by Murphy but failed to beat the keeper with his cross.

The Blues had looked much better since the break and in the 55th minute they went in front. Murphy just kept Mings’s ball down the left, although the home defenders felt otherwise, and cut it back to Nouble, who took a touch before slamming into the net.

Two minutes later, Nouble made it 2-0. Anderson sent over a superb right-wing cross to the far post and the striker powered a header into the roof of the net.

Soon afterwards, Murphy made way for Hungarian trialist Bálint Bajner, who immediately created an opportunity for Nouble to complete his hat-trick with a low ball from the right, but the former West Ham man shot wide from the edge of the box.

Having done well before the break, Colchester failed to show anything in the second half until Ambrose forced Bialkowski to make a superb reaction save from a strike just before the hour mark. Moments later the former Blue made way for Drey Wright.

Town, who had already brought on Cole Skuse and Paul Taylor for Hyam and Anderson, switched Hewitt, Wordsworth, Chambers, Henshall and goalscorer Nouble for Freddie Veseli, Jay Tabb, Tommy Smith, Cameron Stewart and Jack Marriott for the final 20 minutes.

Tabb almost immediately went close to scoring a header but couldn’t quite get enough on Taylor’s cross from the right. At the other end, McAuley Bonne ought to have pulled one back for the home side but shot across the face of goal.

On 77 Marriott made it 3-0 with an excellent solo goal. The 19-year-old brought the ball forward a few yards and cut inside before smashing a powerful low right-foot drive beyond the keeper and into the net for his second goal of pre-season.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes Bialkowski was dispossessed by Bonne to the right of his goal and was fortunate that the Colchester striker shot across the face of goal and wide.

With four minutes remaining Marriott thought he’d scored a second when he stabbed home after Berra’s header from Tabb’s corner had struck a post, but the linesman was flagging. At the other end Gavin Massey shot over from distance.

Town were much better after the break and dominated virtually from the first whistle. Nouble and Marriott took their goals confidently and the Blues deserved the win, although the home side will feel the scoreline was a touch harsh on them after they had been on top before the break.

Town: Gerken (Bialkowski 46), Hewitt (Veseli 70), Mings (Parr 65), Hyam (Skuse 65), Chambers (Smith 70), Berra, Anderson (Taylor 65), Wordsworth (Tabb 70), Murphy (Bajner 58), Nouble (Marriott 70), Henshall (Stewart 70). Subs: Clarke, McQueen, Wyatt.

Colchester: Lewington, Gordon, Eastmond, Ambrose, Gilbey, Holman, Sears, Eastman, Clohessy, Vose, Kent. Subs: Walker, D Wright, Okuonghae, Thompson, Bonne, Olufemi, D Wright, Massey, Moncur, Szmodics, O'Donohue, Sembi-Ferris. Att: 3,519 (Town: 1,566). Referee: P Miller.


Photo: Action Images



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bring_back_Wickham added 21:24 - Jul 23
Seems like even noble will be challenging for a starting 11 place
1

bring_back_Wickham added 21:24 - Jul 23
Nouble
5

Michael11 added 21:31 - Jul 23
Bloody hell Frank, steady on!!! Nice to see him get a few goals though. Hopefully he'll chip in a bit more this season. Great to see young Jack Marriott banging one in again. Very excited about him this season. Really hope he's given a fair crack in the first team!
7

bluemikey100 added 21:35 - Jul 23
fun time franky and great solo goal from marriott lookin gud
2

Kentish_Tractor added 21:37 - Jul 23
Congratulations to Frank for his goals tonight. Although I challenge any Town fan who saw him vs West Ham last week (or any of last season for that matter) to vouch that he is is good enough for the Championship. League One is his level.

As for Marriot, he did look useful against West Ham (great pace and dribbles), although his finishing was poor. Hope he can get some goals and build some confidence.

Also excited about Big Bartosz Białkowski - will be our Number 1 I hope. Nice to be beating the smaller teams for a change rather than hobbling to draws, even if it is a friendly.
3

BrettenhamBlue added 21:38 - Jul 23
Ambrose played really well for Colchester. Easily man of the match in the first half.
Nouble looks fit and raring to go for new season. Veseli really came on strong as a replacement rb. Berra excellent. Bajner ok. Good game from Murphy.
Veseli could be our secret weapon this season. Looks superb.
Should look at Ambrose: destroyed us in the first 45 minutes
3

blueboy1981 added 21:38 - Jul 23
Let's hope Frank keeps those boots for the rest of the season - good work out that against good opposition.

Keep banging the goals in Jack, another Jordan Rhodes in the making - now let's hang on to this one !!.
10

blueboy1981 added 21:40 - Jul 23
As I've said all along - Veseli is Class - all he needs is the opportunity to prove himself.
6

EssexTractor added 21:41 - Jul 23
New season beckons and a first visit to Weston Homes. Pre season friendlies seldom give little clues to what the following months may bring and often produce more yawns than gasps of delight. And so it was during a very flat first half, when neither side threatened the other in any serious way. Stepping up through the gears early after the break quickly revealed the difference between the two teams. Despite Frank Noubles limitations obvious to most he does lack nothing in effort and gleefully took two chances which might not come to him as generously against Championship sides but to his credit he finished with some aplomb. Tidy performance from Anderson, good work by Murphy and some promise from Henshall, although he might be lightweight against better defenders brought some smiles, but the moment to savour was Jack Marriotts strike, perfectly and instinctively executed. I look forward as all of us should to seeing this young man being a regular starter this season.
3

Chicago_Blue added 21:42 - Jul 23
"good opposition" ? - they nearly went down from League One last season.
-5

Lightningboy added 21:42 - Jul 23
Good result and another clean sheet..defence is looking like the best outside the prem.
Good confidence booster for Nouble & Marriott too.
2

SouperJim added 21:45 - Jul 23
Phil has been kind to Col U here for me, not much in it first half but Freddie Seers aside, we always had more quality. Second half we went up a gear and brushed them aside easily. The big Hungarian trialist looked useful, a classic back to goal target man, held the ball up well and brought others into the game. Showed some nice touches too.
3

SouperJim added 21:48 - Jul 23
Forgot to say, also thought Henshall was very good first half, easily our brightest spark.
3

blueboy1981 added 21:48 - Jul 23
Chicago Blue - but they didn't, did they ? ....... perfectly good enough opposition for a pre season friendly, certainly better test than an unheard of Irish team, with no disrespect intended.

Things are shaping up OK - all considered.
8

BlueLight added 21:49 - Jul 23
A win is a win, regardless of the opposition. Good for Frank and Jack to get a game and goals. Hopeful of a great season to come. Well played lads.
3

strikalite added 21:54 - Jul 23
Ahhh, Frankie goes to Col and good! Found his level....couldn't resist :)

That'll do him the world of good in all seriousness....
0

TractorCam added 21:55 - Jul 23
Just got back, awful first half but great that we came out firing second half, good to see Nouble score twice and Marriott knock one in as well. That hungarian Bajner was pretty decent when he came on, would definitely sign him up, good option to have.
1

Sindre94 added 22:03 - Jul 23
Great for Frank this, even though its "just" a friendly..
Hope he keeps his form up! COYB
2

arc added 22:07 - Jul 23
Nouble "powered a header into the roof of the net"!! Holy cow! Whatever next?? ;-)
2

blueboy1981 added 22:12 - Jul 23
CornardBlue - .......... obviously doesn't know a player when he see's one !!!
0

runaround added 22:24 - Jul 23
Although results are not important in friendlies, it's nice when your strikers score & u keep a clean sheet. I thought we were awful first 20 minutes then started to improve. Bajner looked reasonable when he came on & Henshall showed some good stuff at times as did Taylor. All in all a good work out, hopefully Mick can add another 1 or 2 with quality & we will be ready to go
3

TractorBoy666 added 22:28 - Jul 23
A great turnout for a pre season match even though it's a short distance and a good atmosphere too! Even though Nouble frustrates me at times, he took the two goals very well tonight especially the first. Henshall looked very good, as did Anderson at times. Great finish from Jack as well, pleased for him he needs to be involved for us next season. A good second half performance, also I loved the orange kits! COYB
2

TractorBoy666 added 22:34 - Jul 23
Oh yes and I forgot to mention our transfer listed player, Taylor, he was superb when he came on! Keep it up Paul.
5

Quagmire added 22:44 - Jul 23
First time i've seen henshall in action and was very impressed. First goal looked like it had gone out snd their defence pretty much stopped. Second and third goals very nice.
surprised at croud numbers - looked to me like we outnumbered them!
3

I_AM_GOD added 22:59 - Jul 23
Quite an interesting evenings football - definitely stronger in the second half and showed a better class of play than Colchester. I was impressed with Ambrose in their midfield and thought he was a big difference between the teams in the first half.

Big Frank took his goals well and feeds off the crowd in my view. If they are on his back, then he seems to let it get to him, but when he gets them going, they lift him and his play.

I think the squad is forming up nicely for the season - Veseli looked promising tonight. The Hungarian should get another game or two perhaps and could be a good signing to the squad. (not that I am biased with a Hungarian family!!!)

All in all feeling quite promising for the season ahead.
2


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