Colchester United turned in a fantastic performance to topple Sky Bet League One leaders Bristol City by three goals to two at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this afternoon.

First-half goals from Tom Lapslie, Macauley Bonne and Chris Porter stunned the Robins, who, despite pulling back two goals in the second half, left Essex empty handed.

The three points were nothing less than Colchester deserved and, as a result, the U’s moved one point and one place above the relegation zone.

Tony Humes’ men got to a dream start after just three minutes when keeper Frankie Fielding, under pressure from the onrushing Porter, fumbled Elliot Hewitt’s arrowed cross into the path of Lapslie, who headed into the gaping net for his first goal in senior football.

Bristol were stunned, while Colchester, who had lost seven of their eight previous games at home, looked the hungrier side, taking the game to the league-leaders.

After 15 minutes, that hard work paid off again as, following a breathtaking run and cross from Matthew Briggs, Bonne, starting his first game for the club since December 2013, superbly headed into the far corner of the net.

Colchester were in dreamland and, after Wade Elliott had struck a post for Bristol, the excellent Porter added a third in the 27th minute after expertly controlling and tucking home another Hewitt cross.

As expected, Bristol City came back strongly in the second half, with James Tavernier’s fluke 45-yard cross eluding U’s keeper Sam Walker and giant centre-half Aden Flint finding the net with a superb header.

Try as they might though, the Robins could not breach the U’s defence for a third time and the Essex side clung on for three big points that should give them confidence going in to the rest of the season.