A youthful Southend United reserve side suffered a 5-1 defeat at home to Colchester United on Tuesday afternoon.

The Blues endured a nightmare first half against vastly more experienced opponents and found themselves trailing by three goals at the end of the first half.

Harry Crawford did come off the bench to add a late consolation goal, but it was Colchester who secured a comfortable victory in the end.

It was Colchester who attacked from the start and created an early chance through Ian Henderson, with his drilled shot impressively tipped over the top by Daniel Bentley.

But Bentley was soon left helpless, as Henderson's through ball sent Simon Thomas on goal and he made no mistake to coolly slot the ball into the bottom corner of the net in the 27^th minute.

Colchester continued to have the upper hand, with only a vital block from Johnny Herd inside the box denying Henderson, as his effort deflected wide of the right-hand post.

A brilliant strike from David Fox allowed the visitors to increase their lead in the 40^th minute, as he rifled the ball in off the right-hand post from 20 yards.

Southend struggled to mount a threat at the opposite end, with the nearest they came to a sight of goal in the first half being a blocked effort from Craig Calver inside the box.

Colchester continued to put the Blues under pressure and scored a third goal in the 42^nd minute, as Medi Elito's left wing cross was superbly volleyed in by Henderson.

After the break, Kyle Asante lined up a rasping drive that deflected wide before Jamie Dennis thought he had pulled a goal back, only to see his effort cleared off the line.

Chances continued to come Southend's way, with Duran Reynolds the latest when heading wide, but it was Colchester who added to their lead in the 75^th minute, as Elito's low shot deflected beyond the reach of Bentley and into the bottom corner.

Simon Hackney saw a shot cannon off the crossbar before Jordan Sanderson shot wide of the left-hand post with just Bentley to beat.

Crawford did pull a goal back when he headed in five minutes from time, but it was Colchester who had the last word in the final minute, as despite Bentley making an impressive save from Craig Arnott, Thomas was able to head in the rebound.

Southend: Bentley, Sankofa, Herd (Osifuwa 46), James-Lewis, Clayton, Reynolds, Asante, Dennis, Harrison, Calver (Crawford 67), Freedman (Milner 77).