The U's are out of the JPT following a 1-0 defeat at Luton Town tonight
Colchester United went out of the JPT at Kenilworth Road this evening as Claude Gnapka's first half goal secured Luton Town's advancement in to the Area Semi-final. The U's, who made 8 changes to the side that had won at Leeds United on Saturday only sparked in to life in the second half but despite the return of Stephen Gillespie from injury, couldn't find the equaliser.
Lambert, mindful of Saturday's game against Scunthorpe United on Saturday and their tough game at Leeds, rang the changes. Gerken in goal with a back four of Alan Maybury, Matt Heath, Pat Baldwin and John White at left back. The midfield four was Dean Hammond, Kem Izzet, Anthony Wordsworth and Johnnie Jackson while Sunday-Wasiu and Scott Vernon led the line. The bench looked strong with over a million pounds worth of talent looking on. Gillespie made a welcome return to the side after his hamstring problems while Chris Coyne, Mark Yeates, David Perkins and Jimmy Walker accompanied him.
Coyne's return to Kenilworth Road improved when he had to come on after just two minutes. Claude Gnapka and Matt Heath clashed with the U's man receiving a cut that couldn't be treated. The Australian international received a good hand of applause as he came on to the field.
There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the first half to entertain the fans of either side. Vernon's header went across goal though Logan might have a got a fingertip to it while Gerken did well to beat away Andrews's shot.
Andrews, the former U's striker who was sold to Crystal Palace with Gareth Williams coming the other way, had his part to play in the only goal of the game. It was the former Oldham man's shot which was diverted past Dean Gerken by Claude Gnapka.
United almost hit back straight away. From a corner, Vernon's shot thumped back off the underside of the Hatter's crossbar, bounced on the line and was cleared while a fizzing cross from John White took a deflection of Spillane but Logan was able to scramble across his goal to save.
Two rounds from a visit to Wembley, the U's took control after the break and were again unlucky not to find the equaliser. White fired over after Vernon's set up before Jackson became the second U's man to hit the woodwork. Wasiu laid the ball off to him and with Logan beaten, Jackson could only watch as the ball rebounded off the inside of the post.
Jarvis curled a free kick wide before the referee waved away appeals for a penalty after Baldwin's shot appeared to be handled inside the box. Lambert made changes with Yeates and Gillespie coming on for Wasiu and Hammond. The ex-Cheltenham man and dragged his shot just wide at the near post after Jackson had put him in. The final five minutes saw the U's force Logan in to a save from Wordsworth but the U's just couldn't force the tie in to a penalty shoot-out. Luton will now face Brighton in the Area Final.
U's: Gerken, Maybury, Heath (Coyne 2), Baldwin, White, Hammond (Gillespie), Izzet, Wordsworth, JacksonSunday-Wasiu (Yeates), Vernon
Subs not used: Walker, Perkins
Luton: Logan, Asafu-Adjaye, Rpoer, Spillane, Howells, Gnapka, Keane (Beaven 26), Hall, Jarvis, Talbot (Martin), Andrews (McVeigh)
Subs not used: Brill, Davis