Southend United's reserves suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to a youthful Colchester United side this afternoon.

Medi Elito put the visitors ahead on six minutes from Hogan Ephraim's cross, before Ephraim bagged a second for the U's on 18 minutes.

The Shrimpers went close to scoring several times before they eventually got back into the game on 63 minutes thanks to fit-again Gary Hooper.

And the Blues might have got an equaliser but Cousins tipped Matt Harrold's header wide of the left post.