In a game which we controlled from start to finish, the first goal required no work from our young Blues as a loose pass from defender Ronny Nelson missed his goalkeeper and went straight into the back of the net.

Tyrique George's two goals and Jimmy-Jay Morgan's good finish were key to our victory as well as a smart penalty stop from goalkeeper Max Merrick.

We did concede consolations for the Us, though, as Oscar Thorn and Nelson managed to grab goals for Colchester against the run of play.

Nonetheless, Donnell McNeilly added a fifth for Chelsea late on and the three points were secured as we made it two wins from our first two games in Group D.

Slow and steady

Our Under-21s started the game slowly under the lights despite controlling the possession early on.

We had the game’s first chance, and it came from good movement by a number of players as Leo Castledine slipped in Morgan, but just as he was about to shoot, a recovery challenge from our opponents diverted the ball over the bar.

The game settled into a slow pattern and not many chances fell for either side thereafter.

We did, however, score the first goal and it came in bizarre fashion as Colchester seemed to be in control of the ball, but a misplaced pass from Nelson found its way into the back of the net with the goalkeeper scrambling.

A large period of the half went by without anything of note taking place as George came on for the injured Castledine.

It was George who would be presented with our next opportunity, and he took it at the second time of asking. After initially being slipped through smartly by Sam Rak-Sakyi, keeper Harrison Chamberlain made a great double stop to first deny George and then Morgan. but the rebound fell to the first-half substitute, who put it away nicely.

Picking up the tempo

We started the second period with better intensity and the possession was more purposeful. However, against the run of play, Colchester were offered a way back into the game when Zain Silcott-Duberry fouled Kaan Bennett in the box and the referee blew.

The resulting penalty was taken by Bennett, but Merrick saved and held on to the striker’s effort from the rebound to make two remarkable stops.

We grabbed a third after that sequence and it came from a good team move, George turning provider as he laid the ball into Morgan’s path and the striker did the rest to give us our third.

The Us pulled a goal back and it was Thorn who utilised the space he was in effectively to drive into the box and curl into the far post.

There were further chances for Donnell McNeilly and Somto Boniface before we got our fourth, as George grabbed his second of the game, running the full-length of the pitch to meet Brodi Hughes' cross at the back post and make light work of the finish.

In stoppage time, Colchester managed another goal from a well-worked corner which found the head of Nelson.

There was still enough time for us to grab a fifth and it was McNeilly who got himself onto the scoresheet because of good work from Morgan. The striker won possession back from the opposition and laid it to his partner in attack, who had the easy job of rolling the ball into the net.

The game would end with the scoreline 5-2, but there were many more chances to score even more goals.

What next?

Following the upcoming international break, Mark Robinson’s men return to Premier League 2 action as they look to secure three points at home against Leicester City on Friday 27 October with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Max Merrick; Josh Brooking, Billy Gee, Dylan Williams (c); Somto Boniface, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Michael Golding (Reiss Denny 71), Zain Silcott-Duberry (Brodi Hughes 69); Leo Castledine (Tyrique George 29); Ronnie Stutter (Donnell McNeilly 69), Jimmy-Jay Morgan
Unused subs: Eddie Beach
Scorers: Nelson og 15, George 42, 77, Morgan 58, McNeilly 90+5
Booked: Stutter 11, Brooking 71

Colchester United (4-3-3): Harrison Chamberlain; Frankie Terry, Ronny Nelson (c), Harry Beadle, Matt Yates; Milton Oni, Marley Marshall-Miranda, Archie Oliver (Kaleel Green 60); Donell Thomas, Oscar Thorn, Kaan Bennett
Unused subs: Elkanah Akor, Bayan Aman, Eliot Jenks, Ted Collins
Scorers: Thorn 65, Nelson 90+1
Booked: Terry 37, Yates 53, Oni 70, Marshall-Miranda 71, Beadle 71