Colchester United went out of the Carling Cup in the 2nd Round following defeat at Ipswich Town in the A12 Derby on Tuesday evening.

Colchester United bowed out of the Carling Cup last night following defeat in the A12 Derby. Dean Gerken's error allowed Pablo Counago's shot to go underneath him just before the half hour mark before former U's man Kevin Lisbie doubled the lead ten minutes after the break. Steven Gillesipe pulled one back with three minutes left but the U's just couldn't quite find the equaliser they needed to take the game in to extra-time.

Geraint Williams made three changes to the team that had beaten Swindon Town at The County Ground on Saturday. Matt Lockwood and John White both picked up niggles and were rested which allowed club skipper Chris Coyne and Phil Ifil to return to the starting line-up - Ifil starting at left-back with Paul Reid moving to right-back to accomodate Coyne. Dean Hammond also came in for Kem Izzet while David Perkins five game ban had ended to allow him to take his place on the bench for the first time.

Town had former U's man Kevin Lisbie leading the attack following his move from Layer Road during the summer. Former England keeper Richard Wright was in goal while new signing Ivan Campo strolled around the midfield.

After Magilton decried Town's slow start in their defeat against Wolves on Saturday afternoon, it took them less than a minute to fire the first salvo as in the first move from the kick-off Alan Quinn fired in a volley from the edge of the box that was straight at Gerken.

A shot from Phil from the left-hand side never worried Wright before Clive Platt managed to get himself the the right side of McAuley down the inside right channel but his shot from the angle missed the target.

Town took the lead on 28 minutes after the first period of the game had been fairly equal. There looked little danger as Ifil challenged Walters for the ball but in doing so he gifted posession to Pablo Counago 25 yards out. His shot from distance looked comfortable enough but Gerken was either unsighted, caught out by an early shot or deflection as he allowed the ball to go under his body and in to the back of the net. It was the first time in three games at Portman Road that the home side had scored the first goal - and hopes were high that this would mean that on this occasion, the U's would eventually be triumphant.

For all Gerken's error he redeemed himself minutes later with a fantastic save from Lisbie. Walters put over the cross from the Town right and Lisbie found space inside the box to head the ball downwards.Somehow Gerken got down and across with his left hand to palm the ball away to safety and that it was it for goalmouth action in the first half.

United fans were satisfied with the opening 45 minutes but generally there was a thought that their side could do better. Up to the 35 yards from goal, United had looked as good as their Championship opponents but after that, ideas failed them. There was little in the way of crosses from either flank, and at no point did we get to the byline making it all too easy for the home side to defend.

In midfield the U's had battled well but they had two problem areas. Nobody seemed sure who to pick up Counago when he dropped in the hole between the defence and the midfield while Ivan Campo was given the space to play just in front of Town's back four. Though getting on in years who simply cannot give a former Real Madrid player that much time and space on the ball! Also, at no point during the first half did either of the two central midfielder get ahead of United's front men (with Vernon struggling to get in to the game as well) it left United with little options when they hit that 35 yard mark from goal.

It as also obvious to all that Town's out ball was the long diagonal to Walters on the right-hand side particularly as he was up against the rather smaller Phil Ifil. I'm not sure why then, it took the U's nearly 70 minutes to put Heath on the player when Wright was looking to kick out from goal.

Neither side made a change during halftime but both sides knew that the next goal would be crucial in deciding the tie. The first chance came from the left hand side as Platt contributed to Ifil whipping over a cross to the near post which Vernon diverted goalwards but unfortunately wide of the net.

A foul on Yeates 30 yards out saw Alan Quinn become the first name in referee Beeby's notebook. The former Spurs wide man took the kick himself and forced Wright in to a save which needed him to pounce on the ball at the second attempt low down near his right-hand post.

Lisbie, who had otherwise been quiet, was then allowed to profit from a poor piece of decision making from the linesman who allowed play to continue despite Counago clearly being in an offside position and intefering with play. The former Charlton ace was allowed to run almost to the U's six yard box and with the goal gaping, somehow poked it wide left from close range.
Proving the point about getting crosses in from near the byline, when Walters got on the end of Casement's throw in to deliver the ball the dimuinuitive Quinn got up higher than Reid to power a header of Gerken's crossbar.

Eleven minutes after the restart Lisbie doubled Town's lead with a fine solo goal - though again, the U's management will think that it should have been stopped. And indeed it should have been. Lisbie looked to be going nowhere over on the far touchline with Matt Heath for company but a burst of speed took him past the former Leeds United man (who should have put him in the front row of the stands and taking the booking). Lisbie jinked his way in to the box before rifling a right foot in to the top corner of the net. The ex-U's man paid his respects to his former club in refusing to celebrate after his goal against the team that rescued his footballing career.

Two goals down saw Williams start to shuffle his pack with a double substitution. Steven Gillespie came on for the hard-working and perhaps unfortunate Platt while Anthony Wordsworth made way for debutant David Perkins.

The changes helped the U's as Vernon twice shot at a goal in a matter of moments but found his second crucial effort straight at Wright. Quinn fired a free-kick wide. Izzet then came on for the disappointing Dean Hammond in the centre of midfield
With just over ten minutes remaining Town had a mighty let off as Dillespie almost pulled one back. He was sent away by a lovely through ball by Yeates but his attempted lift over the enrushing Wright saw the ball balloon off the goalkeepers body.

The danger was over yet though as Chris Casement got back to clear the ball off the line via the underside of the cross bar!
Gillespie was certainly proving to be a cataylyst for the U's and was showing the two and half thousand U's fans who had made the short trip north just why Williams had paid a club record fee for the former Cheltenham man. He had another chance from the edge of the area which he flicked towards goal without realising that he had enough time to take a touch first. Wright easily saving the effort.

Trotter forced Gerkin in to a late save as United continued to create chances at the other end as Yeates sent Jackson away. On his less favoured right foot though the ex-Spurs man saw his shot go high wide and handsome.

Wth three minutes to go though the U's had a bittersweet moment as they pulled one back only to see the goalscorer limp off immediately afterwards. A neat chip from Steven Gillespie left Wright helpless to do anything about it as the ball nestled in the back of the net. However, as he did so, Gillespie over-stretched and got up clutching his thigh. He limped off and with the U's having used all their substitutes (three from the seven names) were forced to play their remaining minutes with only ten men.

Sadly for the U's they couldn't find another chance to get the game in to extra-time when probably, momentum would have been with the U's and sadly, they bowed out of the competition.
For once Williams, substitutions actually worked. Gillespie looked far better than he did against Huddersfield and hopefully, his injury won't have been too damaging and long-lasting. The Milky Bar Kid had plenty of energy and was eager to get involved in the play while Izzet dictated play and allowed Jackson to get further forward where he is more dangerous to the opponents. However, by then the game was probably over and we can only wonder what might have been had Williams decided to play his very best side on the night.

Shot of the Match: Leading as it did to the opening goal, Counago's low shot completely decived Gerken.
Save of the Match: Gerken redeemed himself totally with a tremendous save from Lisbie's first half effort.
Moment of the Match: What if Heath had sent Lisbie in to the stands instead of allowing him to pass by so easily?
Moan of the Match: Chants from a small section of U's refering to Steve Wright and the horrific Ipswich murders of recent years. Come on guys, we're better than that!
Man of the Match: Though no one really stood out on the U's side there were a couple of decent performanceson the night. Ifil, in a different position to the one he normally plays, battled manfully against Walters and generally came out on top and also provided useful options in attack. However, my MOTM goes to PAUL REID who hardly put a foot wrong during the game. He looks an excellent acquisition by Williams

Photo: Action Images

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