Classy young U's ease past Witham in the Essex Senior Cup

Essex Senior Cup fourth round

Witham Town’s fate was sealed within just ten seconds of their Essex Senior Cup fourth round tie at Colchester United.

It may have been a youthful U’s side that welcomed their Ryman League division north visitors on a cold and frosty night, but they had too much for Town as they eased to a 6-0 victory.

The gulf between Colchester’s full-time youngsters and their Witham counterparts was evident, but the die was cast with just seconds on the clock.

It was the worst possible start for Witham and had more than a hint of self-infliction about it.

From Witham’s own kick-off, the ball was played to full-back Alex Anderson and his back pass found Witham keeper Sam Soutar with ease.

However, the Town custodian dwelt on the ball a fraction too long and was closed down by U’s first-team striker Macauley Bonne.

Soutar’s attempted clearance cannoned off Bonne and he had the simple task of burying the ball in the back of the net.

It was always going to be a big ask for Witham to deny Colchester progress, but conceding so early only magnified the job ahead.

With 89 and a half minutes to rescue the situation, though, Town went in search of an equaliser, but Colchester’s full-time pedigree shone through and they looked comfortable in defence.

The main threat remained at the other end and some neat interplay in and around the Witham box saw an opening fall to Colchester’s Chris Regis, but a superb clearance off the line by Tyler Hayes denied the U’s a second early goal.

It allowed Witham to settle into the game more and they began to look more composed on the ball as they started to make more inroads through the midfield.

However, more sloppy play saw them fall behind in the 17th minute.

Tim Monsheju surrendered possession in a dangerous area and Witham found to their cost that a striker of Bonne’s quality needs no second invitation.

He raced clear and drilled a beautifully-placed shot low past Soutar into the corner of the goal to double his team’s lead.

It left the hosts looking very comfortable and they were even more so with half an hour gone.

In the 26th minute, a foul on Charley Edge saw a free-kick awarded 20 yards out and Edge stepped forward and rattled a shot off the Town crossbar.

However, Edge wasn’t to be denied and two minutes later, he gathered the ball neatly in the box, turned and slammed it past Soutar for a third time.

To their credit and despite the setbacks, Witham tried their best to get back into the game.

Ryan Charles lashed a shot just wide of the target after Scott Kemp had caught Louis Dunne in possession and there was a great chance when a cross from the left found Usman Adeniji unmarked in the area.

He timed his jump well, but got his body shape wrong and was unable to turn the ball towards the home goal as the chance passed by.

Colchester stayed a threat at the other end and a stunning save was needed by Soutar to deny Edge a second goal, but the Witham keeper could do nothing to stop Dunne drilling in a fourth for the hosts in the 40th minute.

Trailing 4-0 at the break, Witham made changes at the start of the second half as Nathan Koranteng and Damien Green came on, but there was a familiar edge to the play as the U’s extended their lead.

Colchester stayed in the ascendancy and went five ahead in the 53rd minute when Bonne showed his class once more with another clinical finish to complete his hat-trick.

It was to be Bonne’s last real action as he was substituted soon after, but his team-mates continued the assault on the Witham goal.

In fact it was Bonne’s replacement, Decarrey Sheriff, who added goal number six when he finished neatly from close-range in the 64th minute and Regis also went close as he rattled the Town crossbar.

That’s not to say it was completely one-way traffic and Hayes saw an effort glide inches past the post from a good Witham break, but the main threat stayed at the other end.

Slick movement from the young U’s saw them carve open the tiring Town defence and it was clear that they had a hunger to keep adding to their six-goal total.

To their credit, though, Witham didn’t give up either and they kept trying to forge opportunities but a consolation goal just wouldn’t come as they bowed out of the County Cup for another year.

Colchester United: Rhys Williams, Brendan Ocran (George Keys 69), JJ Wilson, Cameron James, Josh Pollard, Dion Sembie-Ferris (Tariz Issa 82), Chris Regis, Macauley Bonne (Decarrey Sheriff 58), Charley Edge, Louis Dunne. Subs not used: George Phillips.

Witham Town: Sam Soutar, Alex Anderson, Tyler Hayes, John Watson, Lance Akins, James Regis (Damien Green 45), Scott Kemp, Max Bradford, Tim Monsheju (Ryan Imbert 69), Ryan Charles, Usman Adeniji (Nathan Koranteng 45). Subs not used: Tom Robinson, Lewis Payne.

Referee: L Wood.