Colchester's reserves proved too strong for United this evening, as the Second Division side ran out 4-0 winners at Didcot Town's Loop Meadow stadium. This result leaves Oxford's second string still waiting to record a win this season, and once the visitors took the lead, five minutes before the break, United never looked like breaking their duck.

Oxford's side was considerably weaker than the one that lost to Luton nine days ago[@news]2062[/@news], although they did feature Billy Turley in goal for his first appearance for the reserves, Carl Pettefer in midfield, and Kris Grebis again started up front. The first half saw both sides play neat, passing football, although Colchester always looked more threatening, with Jamie Guy a constant menace in attack, despite the best efforts of Andy Gunn, United's best player. For United, Grebis tried, but failed, to make an impact, while his partner up front, Jerome Anderson, didn't see too much of the ball. Billy Beechers, playing a deeper role than he is used to, was also largely bypassed by the game. Turley was called on to make three or four saves, including one bizarre episode when he almost spooned the ball into his own net. His eagerness for an own goal was rewarded towards the end of the half following a Colchester corner. Grebis failed to connect with his attempted clearance, and Stephen Opoka's shot was turned into his own net by Turley.

Colchester were fastest out of the blocks in the second half, with Jeremiah Olusanya's pace always forcing the inexperienced James Clarke onto his back foot. Five minutes into the half a strong shot from the edge of the area by James Hammond was cleared off the line by Josh Kennet, only to fall to man-of-the-match George Elokobi to hammer back into the net. A couple of minutes later Turley was replaced by Gareth Tucker, and after another few minutes both Pettefer and Grebis were taken off, presumably because of Saturday's first-team match against Gravesend. They were replaced by Aaron Gonzalez and Andrew Younie. Mark Cousins, the Colchester goalie, had little to do in the second half, but he did have to watch one Beechers effort bounce off the top of the crossbar. The best move of the match saw Craig Hughes beat Tucker with a delightful lob, and with the last kick of the game Opoka's strong shot from an angle finished the scoring.

It's difficult to read too much into the results of the reserves, as United don't have a stiffs squad, as such. The team is comprised of first-team players getting match fitness, usually after injuries, and youth teamers looking for more match practice. So, despite their lack of a win all season, there's no reason to extrapolate much significance from these results. What this evening's game did tell us is that Gunn is a very capable defender, a class above his younger team mates, and that Grebis really is desperate to get a goal. Otherwise, there isn't much coming through the ranks, meaning United will have to still be reliant on bringing in players from elsewhere for another season or two.