BRAINTEE TOWN 0 COLCHESTER UNITED 3

Pre-season friendly

Sammie Szmodics made a considerable impact on his first return to Cressing Road as he struck two goals in a lively pre-season friendly fixture.

Unfortunately for Braintree Town fans, this time his goals were in the service of Colchester United as the U’s showed their Football League class in a 2-0 victory.

Szmodics had won many fans when he appeared for Braintree two years ago while on loan from Colchester under manager Danny Cowley.

And while Iron supporters could appreciate a dynamic performance from their former loanee, his goals gave Braintree’s Essex neighbours the clear edge.

There was plenty to encourage fans as they showed they are prepared to play an entertaining brand of football under manager Bradley Quinton.

They looked to get the ball on the floor, keep passing short and neat and move the ball up the field by playing through the team, but despite some impressive segments of action, a cutting edge that would open up Colchester’s defence was lacking in the final third of the pitch.

Braintree’s previous summer action against a Football League opponent had come the week before against League One side Southend United and they were looking to continue the good work from that run-out.

There were a couple of changes from that starting line-up, with strike duo Roman Michael-Percil and Karl Oliyide both carrying knocks as Harry Ottaway and Dernell Wynter came in to lead the attack.

It was a lively start to the game and possibly faster-paced than for many pre-season fixtures, but it was to be expected as both teams looked to play neat football at a high tempo.

Colchester had the better of the early action, with the greater pressure on the home goal and the Iron defence had to be disciplined in the opening minutes to keep their shape and repel the visitors.

However, as they had against Southend the week before, Braintree’s players showed they were prepared to be brave in possession and they started to operate in more advanced positions.

The home contingent among the crowd of 619 would have been pleased to see the intent shown by the players in orange.

The closest they came to taking the lead was in the 15th minute from a free-kick when a surging run by former U’s player Ben Wyatt was halted about 25 yards out.

The impressive Billy Crook stepped forward to take the free-kick and his curling effort was just over Dillon Barnes’ crossbar.

Colchester’s movement of the ball remained a threat, though, and it took a good block by Nathan McDonald to deny Denny Johnstone on 19 minutes, while Szmodics saw a smart effort blocked away for a corner.

However, the U’s midfielder did give his team the lead in the 26th minute.

The ball was given away in midfield by the Iron and Szmodics was smartly on to the loose ball and surged forward before lifting a shot over the advancing McDonald.

It showed Braintree that mistakes would be punished by their Football League visitors and Lewis Kinsella then almost doubled the U’s lead but his strike from an acute angle was kept out by an alert McDonald.

With the hosts trailing by the single goal at the break, they looked to restore parity after the restart and stayed brave in possession.

However, Colchester were also strong on the ball still and posed a threat.

That was highlighted in the 62nd minute when a neat inter-passing move saw the ball delivered to Szmodics in the box and he deftly flicked it home to put the U’s two ahead.

It made things comfortable for the U’s and with heavy rain coming down in the latter stages and after the usual flood of substitutions that epitomise the second halves of pre-season games, play became a bit more disjointed.

McDonald had to stay alert, though, and did well to palm over a rasping effort from Kane Vincent-Young, but he could do little to keep the ball out as Louis Dunne turned it in for a third Colchester goal on 82 minutes.

Braintree Town starting XI: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Ricky Gabriel, Marc-Anthony Okoye, Christian Frimpong, Scott Shulton, George Craddock, Billy Crook, Dernell Wynter, Harry Ottaway, Ben Wyatt.

Substitutes: Joe Robinson, Luke Allen, Mahrez Bettache, Phil Roberts, Matt Baxter, D’Sean Theobold.

Colchester United starting XI: Dillon Barnes, Ryan Jackson, Lewis Kinsella, Denny Johnstone, Sammie Szmodics, Cole Kpekawa, Alex Wynter, Tom Eastman, Tommy O’Sullivan, Tariq Issa, Diaz Wright.

Substitutes: Rene Gilmartin, Tom Lapslie, Frankie Kent, Drey Wright, Sean Murray, Mikael Mandron, Kane Vincent-Young, Craig Slater, Louis Dunne, Cameron James.