Frank Nouble scored a hat-trick as Ipswich Town Under-21s defeated their Colchester United counterparts in a seven-goal thriller, 4-3, at Portman Road on Monday.

Town midfielder Andy Drury grabbed the Blues’ other goal, firing the hosts ahead after 17 minutes, before six goals followed in an amazing second half.

Nouble doubled Town’s lead three minutes after the break, before Jordan Sanderson reduced the deficit for the visitors.

Nouble then hit his second and Town’s third just before the hour before Alex Gilbey and Jack Compton brought Colchester level.

Town weren’t to be denied though and Nouble grabbed the winner 12 minutes from time.

Trialists Ade Yuseff and Mawete Nkunga both started for Town, while Tottenham youngster Victor Zapata-Caicedo joined the action as a substitute.