Kevin Bru and David McGoldrick were on target either side of half-time but Blues went down to a defeat in the penultimate friendly of the pre-season campaign. 

Mick McCarthy’s side - who will finish the summer warm-ups against Utrecht at Portman Road at the weekend - edged in front just before the break through Bru’s powerful finish. 

Colchester levelled early in the second-half when Alex Gilbey converted but McGoldrick gave Blues the lead again from the penalty spot. 

It looked enough to have won the game for Blues but Gilbey found the net from distance late on and then Gavin Massey headed in at the far post to win the game for the hosts.

Larsen Toure was handed a starting role for Blues, alongside fellow trialist Giles Coke at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, with 2000 Town fans making the trip down the A12. 

Brett Pitman headed over in the first effort in anger, Bru then testing Elliot Parrish in the home goal with a 25 yard drive. 

Town looked the more likely to open the scoring, Pitman exploding a shot wide from distance then a sweeping move between Freddie Sears and Pitman ended with Parrish saving from Sears and Jonathan Parr volleying wide from the rebound.

Former Colchester ‘keeper Dean Gerken came to Town’s rescue just before the half hour, denying Chris Porter in a one on one, then the home frontman mis-kicked in front of goal after George Moncur’s shot had been parried by Blues’ ‘keeper.

Toure was replaced by Dylan Connolly 10 minutes before the break, Sears, who joined Town from the U’s in January, going close to giving Blues a first-half lead with a header that just drifted over the bar.

Pitman glanced over from Bru’s free-kick, Darren Ambrose, who played for Colchester in this fixture last summer, couldn’t find Sears after the midfielder had shown clever footwork in a 30 yard run into the heart of the United half. 

It was Town who edged in front right on the half-time whistle though, Sears fed the ball into the box after Ambrose had released him and Bru found the net with the right foot finish.

Gerken saved low down from Gilbey as the second-half got underway, Blues making several changes at the break including the introduction of Daryl Murphy and McGoldrick.

Colchester were level soon after, Moncur, the son of former Tottenham and West Ham midfielder John Moncur, burst through the Town side and from his pass, Gilbey found the net.

Blues were back in front just past the hour, McGoldrick scoring from the spot after his shot had been handled. 

Murphy headed over after another flowing move down the left involving Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Ryan Fraser but Colchester struck twice in the last few minutes though Gilbey and Massey to inflict a second defeat on Blues in pre-season.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (Emmanuel 46), Smith (Yorwerth 46), Berra, Parr (Kenlock 62), Coke (Tabb 70), Bru (Bishop 46), Toure (Connolly 35, Fraser 46), Ambrose (Maitland-Niles 62), Sears (McGoldrick 46) Pitman (Murphy 46). 

Att: 4647