A first half header from Ian Henderson settled this friendly match at the Abbey Stadium.
League One Colchester United provided a stern test for Martin Ling's men, but the Cambridge boss can be pleased with the way his side stood up to their superior opponents, even though they were unable to force an equaliser after falling behind to Henderson's 41st minute goal.
Young striker Adam Marriott came closest to equalising. He won a penalty in the 68th minute after he was bundled to the ground by Mark Tierney, but saw his spot kick pushed round the post by visiting keeper Ben Williams.
Earlier Simon Russell had gone close for United, seeing a shot blocked by Williams after good approach play from Wayne Gray and the impressive Robbie Willmott. But the visitors always looked like they could go up a gear or two, and Tierney provided the cross from which Henderson nodded home the only goal.
United dominated possession in the second half, winning several corners, but Williams was rarely extended, leaving Ling with plenty to ponder as his side prepare for the big kick off.
Man of the Match: Robbie Willmott - United's most consistant attacking threat throughout, either cutting in from the flank or terrorising the Colchester defence from a more central position.
Cambridge United: Danny Naisbitt, Kevin Roberts, James Jennings, Josh Coulson, Brian Saah, Robbie Willmott, Simon Russell, Adam Miller, Conal Platt, Danny Wright, Wayne Gray. Subs: Simon Brown, Jonathan Thorpe, Paul Carden, Sam Ives, Adam Marriott, Blaine Hudson.
Colchester United: Ben Williams, Brian Wilson, Pat Baldwin, Paul Reid, Marc Tierney, Kemel Izzet, Andrew Bond, David Perkins, Anthony Wordsworth, Clive Platt, Ian Henderson. Subs: Mark Cousins, John White, Tom Bender, Lee Beevers, Lloyd James, Kayode Odejayi, Ashley Vincent, Medy Elito.
Attendance: 941 (81 away)
Minute-by-minute report below:
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 1 COLCHESTER UNITED
21.33: There goes the full time whistle. United played some good stuff at times, but an equalising goal was not forthcoming during a second half spent largely in the Colchester half.
21.31: One last chance for the U's perhaps, with a corner on the left. Willmott's first effort is cleared, but he'll get another go now as his shot is deflected behind. This time it's in the vague direction of Coulson, but Colchester clear.
21.28: Russell latches onto a loose pass but shoots over from 25 yards. That first goal in United colours will have to wait a bit longer.
21.26: Marriott and particularly Ives appear to have filled out a bit over the summer, which is pleasing to see. The match is meandering towards a conclusion now, the substitutions have predictably affected the flow.
21.23: The latest substitution involves the linesman on the Main Stand side, who has had to retire from the match, presumably injured. The forth official takes his place.
21.21: No nonsense clearance from Coulson sets United on the counter attack with the busy Willmott. His pass finds Simon Russell, who can't keep his shot down, and it flies high and wide.
21.19: Henderson's shot is deflected, and with Naisbitt flat footed it whizzes wide for a corner, which United eventually clear before conceding a free kick for shirt pulling by Marriott. The defence deal with the danger, but here goes Henderson again, sprinting forward before being disposessed at the expense of another corner.
21.18: Blaine Hudson on for Brian Saah, who seems to have barely broken sweat during his 78 minutes on the pitch.
21.16: Shame for Marriott that, but it wasn't a particularly bad effort, more a good save from the keeper. Here come Colchester again, and Bond loops a header into the hands of Naisbitt.
21.12: PENALTY SAVE. Ives with the ball over the top for Marriott to chase, and that's great pace from Maz, who gets the wrong side of his man and is flattened by the defender, Tierney. Clear spot kick, which Marriott takes. It's hit low to the keeper's right, but that's a fantastic save from Williams, palming the ball around the post for a corner. The kick lacked power, but it was right in the corner and the keeper's done really well. Corner to the U's which Saah heads wide.
21.10: Gray is certainly trying his best to earn a contract with the U's, and shows good strength to hold off a defender and draw the foul. Advantage could have been played with Russell in space, but it's a free kick which Colchester clear away, and oooh, that's a meaty challenge from Carden, and Baldwin goes down screaming in a heap. No permanent damage it seems, but that earns Cardy a talking to from the ref.
21.08: Coulson with an early hoof in the direction of Gray, who does well to beat a couple of dallying defenders to the ball before shooting wide. Another change, Ives for Miller in midfield.
21.06: Wonderful stuff from Marriott, carrying the ball past three players before being fouled. United can't make the most of the free kick, and Jennings' delivery is cleared.
21.04: Perkins has been impressive for Colchester, and plays in Izzet with a great ball inside Jennings. The cross from the winger is deflected behind, and from the corner Bond slices a shot over the bar. Another change for the U's, with Marriott taking the field in place of Platt. It looks like 4-3-3 again, but who knows when that will change.
21.02: United have settled back into a 4-4-2 now, and this time it's Platt's turn to have a go, but again his shot is deflected behind. The corner doesn't amount to anything, and Colchester make their first change, with the giant figure of Kayode Odejayi replacing Platt. Tonight's attendance is 941, with 81 travelling fans present.
20.59: Great pass from Carden releases Thorpe, who cuts across the box and gets a shot off which is deflected over the bar for a corner. Good enterprise from the youngster. Platt's corner isn't the best, and that's away by the Colchester defence.
20.56: Change for the U's, with Paul Carden replacing Wright, who has put in a good shift up front. United now lining up in what appears to be a 4-3-3 formation, with Willmott and Platt flanking Gray up front.
20.52: Good chance for Henderson to net a second there. The flag stays down as he chases through to meet Platt's through ball, but with Naisbitt at his mercy he pulls a shot across goal and wide.
20.48: Here we go for the second half. Colchester may have made some changes but I haven't noticed any. Pressure from Wright wins a corner on the left. That's an interesting corner routine, with Willmott and Platt playing the ball back for the late arriving Jennings, who skims in a cross which narrowly skips over the head of Josh Coulson. That was obviously a move from the training ground.
20.46: Colchester are out, but United aren't just yet. The action should recommence shortly. Fresh from his European adventure, Wayne Hatswell appeared on the pitch at half to carry out the 50-50 draw, and was greeted with warm applause by the U's faithful. United are out now, and there's one change, with Jonathan Thorpe replacing Kevin Roberts at right back.
HALF TIME CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 1 COLCHESTER UNITED
20.29: Bit of pressure from the U's as they look to equalise before half time. The ball is worked from left to right before being returned to Jennings on the left flank. His cross is a good one, but Wright can't turn it in as two defenders crowd him out. And that's half-time, fairly entertaining stuff, but United have looked a little toothless in the final third and the visitors probably deserve their lead.
20.26: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 1 COLCHESTER UNITED. Simple goal, but a good header from Ian Henderson. Tierney arcs in a cross from the left and former Norwich man Henderson gets in between two defenders to head past the stranded Naisbitt. Probably just about deserved on the balance of play.
20.24: Two crunching tackles from Josh Coulson there, and the young centre back picks out Gray with a ball over the top. The on-trial forwards cross doesn't find Wright, and Col U keeper Williams claims.
20.23: Best moment for United so far, with Russell and Gray finding Willmott, who cuts inside once more before playing a clever reverse pass to the on-rushing Russell. Unfortunately for the U's a combination of defender and keeper block the shot, and the other U's race straight up the other end, where Perkins connects with an Izzet cross but shoots over.
20.20: Wright and Gray combine well, with the latter feeding Willmott, who cuts in from the left but drags his shot wide of the far post. Platt and Willmott are both playing on their "un-natural" side and looking to cut in at every opportunity.
20.17: A chance for Henderson there, who controls a looping cross under close attention from Jennings, but blasts his angled shot into the Newmarket Road End.
20.14: Good football from Colchester works an opening for Wilson to cross. Naisbitt gets an unconvincing punch on his centre, and the ball bobbles out to Wordsworth, who fizzes a shot across goal which eludes everyone and flies out at the back post.
20.08: For a friendly this match is being paid at a good tempo, with Miller and Willmott in particular snapping into challenges. Miller concedes a free kick near the United goal line for a poorly timed tackle on Izzet, and though the free kick is overhit the visitors get a chance to deliver from the other side when Coulson clatters into Henderson. But United deal with the set piece and the ball eventually goes behind for a goal kick.
20.05: Lung-bursting run from Miller there, racing through onto Russell's lofted ball. Unfortunately he can't quite keep the ball in near the touchline, but that was good thinking from the ex-Gillingham man.
20.02: The visitors are turning the screw now. Izzet skips in from the left flank and finds the peroxide-blond head of Perkins. He makes a yard of space and curls in a shot which Naisbitt finger-tips to safety. Platt is offside following in, and United breath again.
20.01: Platt's lay off finds Henderson, who can only shoot straight at Naisbett from just inside the box.
19.58: Over-exuberant there from Willmott, whose studs connect with Bond's thigh as they challenge for the ball 25 yards out. Definate yellow in a competitive game, but the ref lets him off with a talking to. Free kick to Col U, which Wordsworth curls inches past Naisbitt's left hand post. The former Histon stopper looked to have it covered. Maybe.
19.55: Colchester's first moment of danger comes from Henderson, whose flick almost presents a chance for Izzet. But Brian Saah is on hand to mop up at the expense of a throw. United have dominated possession so far.
19.52: Miller finds Willmott in the box, who twists and turns but sees his shot blocked. Perhaps should have taken that earlier, but the U's have a corner. Colchester clear the danger, and when Russell tries to follow up his cross floats out at the far post.
19.49: Ball over the top from Coulson seeks out Gray, who controls well but sees his cross-cum-shot blocked by Baldwin, and the ball runs through to the keeper.
19.47: Good overlap from Jennings wins a corner off the shins of Wilson. Willmott's delivery is deep, but the U's can't capitalise on Kevin Roberts header across goal.
19.45: And we're off, United attacking the South Stand.
19.40: TEAM NEWS: Trialist Wayne Gray starts up front alongside Danny Wright for the U's, with Robbie Willmott reverting to his usual position on the flank. CRC youngster Jonathan Thorpe is among the substitutes.
18.58: Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight's friendly match against Colchester. The team sheets aren't yet with us, but Martin Ling is set to give several of his players longer stints on the pitch after rotating the side in the first two friendlies.
