Colchester United thrust themselves back into the play-off spots in some style on Saturday afternoon, easing to a 3-0 win over Newport County.

In truth, it could have been more as a series of fantastic individual performances ensured that the U's controlled the game from very early on.

And, like the recent 3-0 win over Cheltenham, the U's scored some goals of the highest quality, with superb strikes from Courtney Senior and Frank Nouble complimenting an instinctive finish from Sammie Szmodics.

The wind was playing havoc in the early stages, but the U’s started to get a measure of it and went close on 15 minutes, as Eastman headed wide from Senior’s free kick.

They did get in front on 20 minutes though, as a clever ball from Nouble eluded the falling Jackson and Szmodics reacted quickest to stab home past Day.

It was so nearly two three minutes later, as Szmodics picked up a loose ball and sent Senior away with a clever reverse pass. Senior bore down on the keeper, but Day saved well with his leg.

It was a decent spell for the U’s and Stevenson won the ball for them in midfield and sent Norris away, but he pulled his shot wide of the far post.

Senior was seeing more of the ball and embarked on a great run down the right, beating two physical challenges but getting crunched by O’Brien on the third.

The U’s number seven got his revenge in sensational style just before half time, with a contender for goal of the season.

He took a touch as the ball was laid into his path and rifled a superb shot past Day to make it 2-0.

Senior almost made it three within a couple of minutes as he darted into the box and struck in a shot that Day shovelled away, with Vincent-Young’s follow-up blocked.

Chances were common in the early stages of the second half, with Gilmartin clawing away Labadie’s header destined for the top corner, whilst Senior forced another good stop out of Day with Szmodics waiting for the squared ball.

The U’s were always wary that the visitors could pull one back, so it was a happy crowd that saw Nouble make it 3-0 in superb style.

The forward showed his quick feet off to wrong foot his defender and smashed one over Day into the far top corner.

His goal drew acclaim and applause from both sets of fans and he was shortly replaced by Dickenson.

There followed a relatively quiet spell of the game as the U’s managed the match whilst three to the good, and Senior was replaced to applause from the crowd, as Eisa came on.

And the substitutions were completed with another debut for a U’s academy Noah Chilvers coming on for Szmodics.

Chilvers got on the ball in the dying stages to draw even further applause from the home fans, and the U's picked up a great three points to push themselves back into the top seven.

Next up, it's Forest Green!