Colchester 1-2 Southampton Under-23s: Olufela Olomola secures Checkatrade Trophy win for Saints

But the 52 hardy Saints fans who made the trip round the M25 will have been encouraged by the performance of the Under 23s last night.

Martin Hunter’s side emerged with much credit against the League Two outfit in front of a crowd of 791- the lowest ever at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, since it opened in 2008.

Saints U23s’ first win in the Checkatrade Trophy came courtesy of goals early in each half for Sam McQueen and Olufela Olomola.

It follows the 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic in their opening group game and, just to show what it meant to the Saints tyros, was met with several fist-pumps.

But it was not just the result that will have encouraged Hunter and Les Reed. The Saints starlets will have learnt a lot from the way they played together against battle-hardened League Two players.

It was another big step along the learning curve for the likes of Olomola, or ‘Fela’ as he prefers to be known, who scored the winner in the 51st minute.

A strong, versatile and clever striker, he cannot be too far away from a first-team debut.

Honours were even at half-time after Sam McQueen’s near-post finish from Thomas O’Connor’s right-flank corner was cancelled out by Dion Sembie-Ferris, who scored his first senior goal with a clinical 22nd-minute finish.

McQueen's opener was the left-back’s second goal against the Us, having also scored against them during his loan spell at Southend last season.

O’Connor soon had a shot saved from Hesketh’s pass, but Colchester did not take long to respond.

Saints centre-half Ollie Cook had done well to take the sting out of a Danny Johnstone header, but he was at fault when the home side equalised.

Cook was caught flat footed and after failing to retrieve the ball from Sammie Szmodics, Colchester’s dangerous number ten, the ball was slipped to Sembie-Ferris who fired left-footed into the far corner.

Saints had a good chance to restore their lead but after a slick exchange of passes with Hesketh, Olomola’s shot was well saved.

Another chance was created by the tenacious Josh Sims, who regained possession by hounding Lewis Kinsella, before dancing past the left-back with a wonderful piece of skill.

McQueen could not make the most of the chance at the back post and Kinsella soon went into the book for a foul on Sims.

Hesketh had a shot saved after running at the back four and then shinned one over the bar before Olomola’s shot was deflected behind.

Then, with Colchester keeper James Bransgrove stranded following an attempted clearance, Saints wide-man Tyreke Johnson’s left-footed chip from the edge of the area sailed just wide of the far post.

Saints’ lead was restored six minutes into the second half.

Olomola had needed treatment shortly after the break but he was soon on the scoresheet.

The teenager slammed in the second from six yards at the near post following Sims’ cross from the right.

Sims and Johnson soon switched flanks and the former’s expertly weighted pass down the left was crossed first time by McQueen, whose cross deserved an end product, as did Reed’s from a similar position.

Sims volleyed just wide at the far post as Saints continued to create the better chances.

Alfie Jones’ timely block denied Colchester their first notable attempt of the second half before Saints threatened a third on the counter attack.

Olomola, having been booked for a foul on Luke Prosser, raced down the left and crossed for Johnson, whose shot was well saved by a diving Bransgrove.

Colchester had their first shot on target of the second half with 15 minutes remaining, but substitute Tariq Issa’s long-range effort was straight at Lewis.

Saints defender Jones was given a taster of the sort of heckling that can be expected in league football when he completely missed the ball in front of the main stand.

But otherwise it was a composed performance, from front to back.

Saints goalkeeper Harry Lewis produced the save of the night with ten minutes remaining when he dived low to his left to keep out a powerful shot from Issa.

McQueen became the third Saints player to be booked but then produced a surging run from inside his own half to the edge of the Colchester penalty area.

He found Hesketh, who missed out after trying to cut on to his right foot. But Saints were soon celebrating a deserved win.

Colchester United: Bransgrove, Prosser, Wright (James 72), Szmodics, Vincent-Young, Wynter, Johnstone (Porter 64), Sembie-Ferris (Issa 45), Slater, Kamara, Kinsella.

Saints: Lewis, Valery, McQueen, Reed, Cook, Jones, Sims, O’Connor, Olomola, Hesketh, Johnson.

Subs (unused): Slattery, Parkes,Bakary, Vokins, Mdlalose, O’Driscoll, Afolabi.

Referee: Mr S Martin