Colchester United Reserves launched their new Avon Insurance Combination season with a disappointing 4-1 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

Lloyd Opara, younger brother of the U's Kelechi, scored the lone goal in a game described by Layer Road boss Steve Whitton as the "story of the two penalty areas".

He said: "QPR took their chances and we didn't. The score could have been something like six-all. I was reasonably happy with our overall performance, but our finishing let us down badly."

The U's gave run-outs to 16-year-old trio Opara, former Ipswich defender Adam Tanner, Matty Hearn and Dean Morgan, and Steve McGavin and Gavin Johnson also enjoyed 90 minutes of action.

Colchester United under-19s entertain Wycombe Wanderers at the Garrison B ground on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 11am. The under-17s are away to Portsmouth. Angelo Harrop, son of the U's assistant director of youth Geoff, will spend a week in the company of Wales boss Mark Hughes.

Coaches Ian Rush and Mark Bowen will also be there looking after the Wales under-14 squad.

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