Heybridge Swifts 0 Colchester United 6

FOUR goals inside the first half-hour guaranteed a comfortable victory for Colchester United, in their first pre-season friendly of the summer, at a soggy Heybridge Swifts this afternoon.

Ian Henderson and Freddie Sears both bagged a brace for the U’s, who fielded different starting line-ups for each half.

U’s boss John Ward also gave two triallists a run-out. Ex-Southend United midfielder Merrick James-Lewis played the first 45 minutes, and Blackburn Rovers young full-back Jackson Ramm appeared for the second period.

Henderson tapped home the opener in the 16th minute, and then volleyed home a spectacular second into the roof of the net just two minutes later.

Summer signing Sears, who was on loan with the U’s from West Ham at the end of last season, added two further quickfire goals.

Henderson was denied a hat-trick, when his long-range shot rattled the bar in the 22nd minute. But Sears pounced on the rebound, and although his first effort was blocked, he forced home at the second attempt.

Sears netted the goal of the game in the 28th minute, executing a delightful chip from just inside the box to make it 4-0 to the rampant U’s.

The visitors could have added further goals before the break, with both Karl Duguid and Michael Rose going close from long range.

It was a more low key second half, during which Marcus Bean made his first appearance in a U’s shirt, since his move from Brentford.

But substitute Tosin Olufemi weighed in with two late goals to seal a big win.

Olufemi netted a fifth on 75 minutes, and then buried a rebound in the 86th minute after Bradley Hamilton’s initial rasping shot had been parried.

COLCHESTER UNITED TEAMS

First half: Cousins, Wilson, Aldred, Heath, Rose, Duguid, Bond, James-Lewis, O’Toole, Sears, Henderson.

Second-half: Pentney, Ramm, Eastman, White, Coker, Gilbey, Hamilton, Bean, Wright, Melaugh (sub Olufemi, 51), Ladapo