Colchester 1-2 West Ham United FT

67 mins - Three more changes from the hosts with Wilson, Wordsworth and Sears replaced by White, Rose and Gilbey.

67 mins - Kieran Sadlier has put the Development Squad back in front with his second goal of the game. Back here, Demel just overruns the ball after a marauding run down the right. His cross comes over and Mohsni slams the shot over the bar.

65 mins - Half-chance for Mohsni as the cross comes over to the far post from O'Neil following a good run from Taylor. The substitute rises but his header is too strong and flies back across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

64 mins - Slight controversy as Sears goes down as he tries to go past Demel inside the penalty area. Nothing given by the referee and the follow-up shot flies over.

62 mins - We're going to see Mohsni in a few moments. He scored at both ends for the Development Squad last night and will wear the No10 shirt this afternoon. He is on now for Carlton Cole.

60 mins - Colchester force three corners in quick succession. The third is caught well by Jaaskelainen.

59 mins - Four changes from Colchester. Bean, O'Toole, Morrison and Eastman are off, with Bond, Izzet, Heath and Wright coming on.

58 mins - I understand there is a lot of speculation about Kevin Nolan. We will get an update from the medical staff after the game and post it on whufc.com as soon as anything is confirmed. I can tell you that he is sitting on the bench watching the game with his team-mates.

54 mins - Strong play from Cole to win a corner. Taylor will whip it in left-footed. He does, but Cousins is there to make the catch. Colchester break but Potts defends well against Henderson. The left-back is looking good in pre-season.

52 mins - Potts fouls Morrison. The free-kick is taken by Wordsworth, but it's too close to Jaaskelainen and the Finn catches high above his head.

50 mins - Henderson and Wilson create some space down the Colchester right before the full-back crosses deep. Morrison rises and heads the ball into the back of Demel, but he'd already been whistled for a push on the Ivorian.

48 mins - There was a PA announcement just before the half-time break ended telling people to move their cards from the services on the other side of the A12. Presumably, Kazim-Richards and Duguid had both parked there...

46 mins - Noble lofts the free-kick over and Reid's header loops and just clears Cousins and the crossbar. The No12 for Colchester is Henderson, who is listed as No16 on the teamsheet.

Both teams have brought on a substitute apiece. For West Ham, Vaz Te is on for Kazim-Richards. For Colchester, Duguid has gone off with the No12 coming on.

Half-time score - Colchester United 1-2 West Ham United

46 mins - That's half-time. Well, Colchester started the brighter before Maynard scored slightly against the run of play. West Ham took control and doubled their lead through Noble's penalty. The home side did not give up the battle, however, and were rewarded with Wordsworth's goal, which will make things interesting after the break. However, we can expect to see plenty of changes from both managers. We will also try to get an upate on Nolan's injury, but it may well be too early to get a full diagnosis.

44 mins - Nice, patient build up from the men in claret and blue involving no fewer than six players. Maynard tries to prod the ball through to Cole, but his run is bent the other way and the chance is lost.

43 mins - Half-time is approaching and Big Sam will want this side to reassert their dominance. Colchester are pushing at present looking for an equaliser.

39 mins - GOAL! Colchester have a goal back through Wordsworth. The initial break looked to have been snuffed out by Reid's tackle, but the ball was worked back to O'Toole, whose low cross was controlled and finished low past Jaaskelainen by the No22.

36 mins - Time for a drink as Demel has the physio on, but his trot along the touchline is more successful than Nolan's and he'll be back on in a few seconds.

34 mins - Instant response from Colchester, who force two quick corners. The second is headed goalwards by Morrison, but Jaaskelainen makes a routine catch.

32 mins - GOAL! No mistake from Noble, who slams the spot-kick high into the right of the net as Cousins dives low to his right.

32 mins - Penalty to West Ham! Maynard collects a superb pass over the top from Noble. He is brought down by a clumsy challenge from O'Toole and when Cole's follow-up is saved by Cousins, the spot-kick is awarded.

30 mins - I reckon the Colchester manager John Ward might have been somewhere warm and sunny this summer. He has a lovely sun tan. It's 1-1 down at Thurrock, where Hassan Ibrahim has equalised for the hosts.

27 mins - A yes Guy Demel! The right-back uses some quick feet to nutmeg Coker by the touchline. A burst of 'Oooohs' from the fans. You don't normally see that sort of skill from the Ivorian!

25 mins - Cole flicks on and Kazim-Richards - who has swapped flanks with Maynard - races on to the ball. He looks up and shoots low towards the far corner. Cousins goes down and grabs the ball to his chest.

24 mins - Coker is forced to defend this time, but he stands strong and tackles Kazim-Richards after initially losing out to Maynard. Meanwhile, an ice cream seller is doing the rounds in front of me. I am tempted by a raspberry ripple, but need to remember I am at work!

23 mins - Coker again, but this time the diagonal pass forces him off balance and his cross is sliced behind for a goal kick. Demel is being pulled inside by Sears' movement and it's giving the left-back space to run into.

22 mins - The U's come forward for the first time since falling behind and it's left-back Coker again providing the width. He crosses dangerously at head height and McCartney makes a brave clearing ahead in front of Morrison. Good defending.

20 mins - Cole forces Wilson to pass back to Cousins. His clearance goes straight to O'Neil, but his long-range effort flies well wide of the right-hand post. Colchester are all of a sudden unable to maintain any sort of possession. They do say that goals change games...

19 mins - Kazim-Richards has the ball in the net with a cheeky backheel but unfortunately he is offside from Cole's low shot. The Turkey international had created the chance for Cole himself by controlling inside the penalty area and laying off to the No9. West Ham looking far more comfortable now.

16 mins - GOAL! Maynard! Reid steps in with a strong challenge in midfield and brings the ball forward before finding O'Neil in acres of space wide on the right. O'Neil gallops forward before clipping a cross to the far post. Cole rises above two defenders and heads down. Maynard shapes his body superbly to fire a right-foot side volley past Cousins. That's Maynard's second goal of the pre-season.

15 mins - The Development Squad are 1-0 up at Thurrock. Kieran Sadlier has scored down at Ship Lane.

13 mins - You can see Sears is keen to impress this afternoon as he is putting himself about all over the park. However, his team-mates are also looking positive. Colchester have made a good opening. They play some nice football on what looks to be a very good playing surface here in north Essex.

10 mins - Taylor tries to play in Maynard, but his through ball is cut out. Sears leads the counter-attack before the cross comes over for Wordsworth, but his header loops harmlessly high and wide.

7 mins - There is a bit of a hush that has fallen over the stadium since Nolan's departure. I'm sure a lot of the fans here today would love to have see him in action, but it was the sensible move if he was feeling any discomfort. The suggestion is that he had his foot trodden on. A couple of diagonal balls are aimed at Kazim-Richards. The third is knocked down and passed by Cole to Potts, but his shot is charged down.

5 mins - Colchester win a corner as the ball is headed behind from Coker's cross. West Ham clear before right-back Wilson crosses behind for a goal kick. Potts is on to replace Nolan.

4 mins  No, he's going to have to come off. Meanwhile, Jaaskelainen makes a save to push away a shot from distance. It'll be Dan Potts who comes on for the captain. Taylor will go into midfield.

3 mins - Nolan has his right boot back on and is now having a quick drink. I think he's going to come back on shortly.

2 mins - Kevin Nolan is over here speaking to the physio. It appears that he's knocked his right foot somehow, maybe trying to challenge Sears during that first-minute attack.

1 min - Colchester make a bright start, knocking the ball around patiently before Bean finds Sears. He crosses from the right channel and Reid heads clear.

3.07pm - Freddie Sears gets a good cheer from both sets of fans when his name is read out. The Colchester No11 will have his own personal point to prove this afternoon. Sears himself will kick-off with Clinton Morrison...

3.05pm - 'Right here, right now' has now finished and, just in time, the two team emerge from the tunnel. I have no idea what the wait was all about, but both sets of players receive a big round of applause as they stroll on to the playing surface.

3.03pm - Still no players... This Fatboy Slim song will have finished before they arrive on the pitch at this rate!

3.02pm - Erm, well the teams haven't emerged after all. The PA announcer built it all up about three minutes ago, but so far nobody has come out of the tunnel apart from the substitutes...

2.59pm - Here come the teams to some very grand-sounding music! There is a decent crowd inside the stadium and I can report that at least half of them are wearing claret and blue.

2.57pm - OK, the photographers are gathered at the mouth of the tunnel and it will not be long before the two teams emerge. I'm told this is a near first-choice Colchester team, so it'll be a good test for the Hammers. Big Sam will have demanded an improvement after Tuesday's defeat at Oxford United. It might be pre-season, but the manager will want a better performance and result.

2.50pm - The Development Squad are also in action this afternoon at Thurrock, where Ian Hendon is fielding a young side containing a number of trialists. We will keep you updated of events at Ship Lane as best we can!

2.40pm - Most of you will know who Colin Kazim Richards is, but to refresh your memories... The attacking midfielder and winger was born in Leytonstone and turns 26 next month. After spells with Bury, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United, he moved to Turkish football with Fenerbahce. From there, he was loaned to French side Toulouse before joining Galatasaray in 2011. He enjoyed a spell on loan at Greek champions Olympiacos last season. The son of a Turkish-Cypriot mother, he has 35 caps for Turkey, scoring twice.

2.30pm - As a certain singer once sang, here come the Hammers! The West Ham squad trot out on to the pitch for their warm-up. Colchester's players have been out there for a while already and are currently doing some running up and down the far touchline.

2.15pm - News from up the A12 in Ipswich where West Ham's Under-18s played their first pre-season match. Nana Boakye-Yiadom was on target for the Hammers, netting the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Playford Road. We'll have a full report and reaction on whufc.com soon.

2pm - We have the team news! For West Ham, trialist Colin Kazim Richards is starting as one of the front three, while Bilel Mohsni is among the substitutes. Freddie Sears starts for Colchester.

Colchester United: Cousins, Okounghae, Bean, Eastman, Coker, Wilson, Wordsworth, Duguid, O'Toole, Morrison, Sears
Subs: Pentney, Aldred, Rose, Heath, Izzet, Bond, Henderson, White, Gilbey, Wright

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, McCartney, Taylor, Noble, O'Neil, Nolan, Kazim Richards, Maynard, Cole
Subs: Larkins, Driver, Mohsni, Hall, Vaz Te, Moncur, Nasha, Morrison, Spence, Potts

Good afternoon and welcome to the smart and modern Weston Homes Community Stadium for today's pre-season match between West Ham United and npower League One side Colchester United.

The Hammers are making their first-ever visit to Colchester's new ground, which opened in 2010. Fittingly, the occasion will be marked by West Ham wearing their new 2012/13 Macron home kit for the first time. To order your strip, click here now!

Today, Sam Allardyce's side are playing their fifth pre-season fixture and the manager will be hoping for a better performance than the one he saw at Oxford United on Tuesday, when West Ham were beaten 1-0. To aid his cause, Big Sam has named a strong squad for the trip to north Essex, with trialist and Turkey international Colin Kazim Richards set to appear for the first time in a claret and blue shirt.

However, the U's have invested heavily in their squad over the summer months, bringing in Freddie Sears from West Ham,. Republic of Ireland international forward Clinton Morrison from Sheffield Wednesday and Jamaican Marcus Bean from Brentford.

At the same time, John Ward's side have also let a number of players leave, including highly rated goalkeeper Ben Williams who has moved to Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.

A crowd of around 7,000 is expected for this afternoon's game between two teams who have never met in a competitive fixture. However, they did meet on no fewer than three times at Development Squad level last season.

The team news will be confirmed at around 2pm.

Colchester United: Cousins, Okounghae, Bean, Eastman, Coker, Wilson, Wordsworth, Duguid, O'Toole, Morrison, Sears
Subs: Pentney, Aldred, Rose, Heath, Izzet, Bond, Henderson, White, Gilbey, Wright

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel (Spence 76), Reid, McCartney, Taylor, Noble, O'Neil, Nolan (Potts 5), Kazim Richards (Vaz Te 46), Maynard, Cole (Mohsni 62)
Subs not used: Larkins, Driver, Hall, Moncur, Nasha, Morrison