Albion Reserves were beaten 3-1 at Colchester in the Combination yesterday as the hosts' superior finishing proved decisive.

Defenders Adam Virgo and Robbie Pethick both returned after injury and had work to do in the first half as Colchester made most of the running.

Adrian Coote hit the inside of the post having beaten Virgo and Guy Butters for pace, while Simon Atangana lifted a shot over the bar from six yards with only Will Packham to beat. At the other end Chris McPhee's low drive forced a full-length save out of goalkeeper Richard McKinney.

Albion started brightly in the second half, but it was the home side who took the lead against the run of play on the hour mark. After a Virgo foul 20 yards from goal, Marc Canham's free-kick was flicked past Packham by Pat Baldwin.

Colchester added a second when Coote laid on a simple chance for Atangana who swept the ball home from six yards.

David Lee pulled one back when he fired a cracking shot from 30 yards past McKinney into the bottom corner.

But the hosts made the game safe with ten minutes left when Dean Morgan beat Adam Hinshelwood, who had earlier been booked, and looped his shot over Packham into the net.

Albion: Packham, Hinshelwood, Jones, Virgo (Lee 67 minutes), Butters, Pethick, Piercy, Rogers, Hammond, McPhee, Wilkinson. Subs not used: Bridle, Harding.