The Albion lined up;
Henderson;
Reid, Hinshelwood, El-Abd, Hart;
Brittain, Hammond Carpenter, Frutos:
Revell, Robinson
Colchester started the game strongly, playing some classy football and not allowing the Albion time when we did get the ball. For all their pressure though Wayne Henderson, in goal for the first half, did not have a save to make.
20 minutes into the game Adam Hinshelwood pulled up with nobody near him, and managed to limp off the field with a knee injury, after about 5 minutes of treatment off the field he was stretchered off having been replaced by Tommy Elphick.
Soon after this a scissor tackle from behind resulted in the first yellow card of the night, for Adam el-Abd, and boos from the Colchester crowd every time he got the ball from then on.
ColU were still the stronger of the 2 sides and went close to Wayne Hendersons left post a couple of times, and another shot just clear of the bar.
It was not until the 43rd minute that Brightons first decent chance came, after some work on the left wing Dean Hommond had a shot that narrowly missed to the Right of the goal, a minute later Jake Robinson went wide from a similar position.
Michel Kuipers replaced Henderson in goal for the second half, and then early on Colin Kazim-Richards came on for Alex Revell. Alex Frutos earned a free-kick just outside the box, Brittain had a go with the Free-Kick and forced a save from the keeper moving quickly to his right. The Albion kept the pressure up with a couple of corners in quick succession drilled in to no avail by the Triallist Brittain.
More changes followed for the Albion with ex- Falkirk triallist Danny McBreen replacing Jake Robison and then later on Dean Cox for Alex Frutos. These changes seemed to spark some life into the Seagulls, and there was some decent link up play between the wide men and the front two.
Kazim-Richards goal came after some build up work on the Right wing, the ball came into Kazim-Richards on the edge of the area facing away from goal, he was able to chest the ball down and volley past the keepers left hand from about 15 yards.
The Albion continued with the good work with a couple more good chances, one that McBreen blasted over the away terrace after good work from himself, Brittain & CKR. CKR himself nearly had a second but the ball got stuck between his legs as he got to the edge of the area after a run from the halfway line.
It certainly wasn't all Albion though as Colchester hit the bar twice in succession in one move in the second half, and Kuipers was forced into a couple of excellent saves from the dangerous ColU forwards. Chris Iwelumo got a deserved round of applause from the Albion support of about 100 when he came on for Colchester halfway through the second half.
A very promising second half performance from the Albion gives us cause for hope for the Season. It does look like Mark McGhee may have to start looking for a Central defender to replace Hinsh, with Butters, Mayo & Lynch already out injured.
Henderson;
Reid, Hinshelwood, El-Abd, Hart;
Brittain, Hammond Carpenter, Frutos:
Revell, Robinson
Colchester started the game strongly, playing some classy football and not allowing the Albion time when we did get the ball. For all their pressure though Wayne Henderson, in goal for the first half, did not have a save to make.
20 minutes into the game Adam Hinshelwood pulled up with nobody near him, and managed to limp off the field with a knee injury, after about 5 minutes of treatment off the field he was stretchered off having been replaced by Tommy Elphick.
Soon after this a scissor tackle from behind resulted in the first yellow card of the night, for Adam el-Abd, and boos from the Colchester crowd every time he got the ball from then on.
ColU were still the stronger of the 2 sides and went close to Wayne Hendersons left post a couple of times, and another shot just clear of the bar.
It was not until the 43rd minute that Brightons first decent chance came, after some work on the left wing Dean Hommond had a shot that narrowly missed to the Right of the goal, a minute later Jake Robinson went wide from a similar position.
Michel Kuipers replaced Henderson in goal for the second half, and then early on Colin Kazim-Richards came on for Alex Revell. Alex Frutos earned a free-kick just outside the box, Brittain had a go with the Free-Kick and forced a save from the keeper moving quickly to his right. The Albion kept the pressure up with a couple of corners in quick succession drilled in to no avail by the Triallist Brittain.
More changes followed for the Albion with ex- Falkirk triallist Danny McBreen replacing Jake Robison and then later on Dean Cox for Alex Frutos. These changes seemed to spark some life into the Seagulls, and there was some decent link up play between the wide men and the front two.
Kazim-Richards goal came after some build up work on the Right wing, the ball came into Kazim-Richards on the edge of the area facing away from goal, he was able to chest the ball down and volley past the keepers left hand from about 15 yards.
The Albion continued with the good work with a couple more good chances, one that McBreen blasted over the away terrace after good work from himself, Brittain & CKR. CKR himself nearly had a second but the ball got stuck between his legs as he got to the edge of the area after a run from the halfway line.
It certainly wasn't all Albion though as Colchester hit the bar twice in succession in one move in the second half, and Kuipers was forced into a couple of excellent saves from the dangerous ColU forwards. Chris Iwelumo got a deserved round of applause from the Albion support of about 100 when he came on for Colchester halfway through the second half.
A very promising second half performance from the Albion gives us cause for hope for the Season. It does look like Mark McGhee may have to start looking for a Central defender to replace Hinsh, with Butters, Mayo & Lynch already out injured.