Tyler Goodrham effort enough as Oxford see off Colchester in Carabao Cup

Tyler Goodrham’s fine early strike proved enough as Championship outfit Oxford claimed a narrow 1-0 win over League Two Colchester in the Carabao Cup first round.

The 22-year-old midfielder showed his class by firing a dipping 22-yard shot over goalkeeper Matt Macey in the ninth minute.

Both teams made six changes from their league games at the weekend for what was Colchester’s first-ever visit to the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford started fast, winning a corner in the opening seconds and going ahead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Adrian Akande shot well wide when the visitors tried to respond.

Oxford almost doubled their lead when Matt Phillips cut in from the left and saw his shot spectacularly pushed around his post by Macey.

Jamie Cumming saved efforts from Arthur Read and John-Kymani Gordon before the break as Colchester worked hard to get back on level terms.

Goodrham screwed a low shot wide early in the second half and Cameron Brannagan later warmed Macey’s fingers with a swerving 35-yard drive.

Colchester captain Tom Flanagan headed off the line to keep out Mark Harris’s angled shot in the closing minutes.

Yet Danny Cowley’s visitors were never out of it and kept believing they could get something out of the tie until the final whistle.