Colchester United's second string inflicted a 4-0 defeat on a youthful Hatters reserves at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

An experienced U's side scored twice in each half through Matt Lockwood and Steve Gillespie and then Joel Thomas and Scott Vernon to send the Town - the defending league champions - home with a defeat from the season's opening totesport.com Combination match, much to the disappointment of coach Alan Neilson.

"They put out a strong side and in comparison we had some players with first team experience, but the rest was made up of scholars," explained Neilson. "Shane Gore, Shane Blackett, Steve Basham, Jake Howells, Ryan Charles and George Donnelly all got a game but the rest of the side were first and second year scholars.

"The first goal was a poor one to give away, it was a free header and we should have marked better. The second was a good goal after a flowing passing move. A long ball over the top did us for the third but again I was disappointed we were caught out that way and then their final goal came in injury time and by then I think the young lads were tired.

"Don't get me wrong, Colchester deserved their win and it was a good work out for us. Ryan was coming back from injury and we had another look at George Donnelly and with the exception of one of the younger lads getting a knock, everyone came through okay.

"It was a good pitch to play on and it was a good experience for everyone, we just need to see how they respond and where they go from here.

"They need to learn from it and go out in future matches and put that into practise and apply themselves."