Colchester United stunned hosts Norwich City this afternoon with a magnificent 7-1 victory at Carrow Road, on a remarkable opening day of the season.

The U's were in rampant form, scoring five times without reply in an incredible first half which delighted the travelling Colchester fans but exasperated the shell-shocked Canaries fans in equal measure.

It brought back memories of the U's 6-3 thrashing of Chesterfield, on the opening day of the 2001-02 season.

However, this triumph was on another scale.

And given that this was Norwich's first game in the third tier following their relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship, this fine victory will surely go down in U's folklore for years to come.

Paul Lambert's side led 5-0 at half-time.

Cody McDonald pulled a goal back for shell-shocked Norwich in the second half but substitutes David Perkins and Scott Vernon capped the U's win late on.

Kevin Lisbie, making his second debut for the U's, started off the rout in the 11th minute.

Lisbie, whose every touch was booed by the Norwich fans because of his Ipswich connecttions, tapped the ball into the empty net after goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos had made a complete hash of Jon Otsemobor's over-hit back-pass.

Less than two minutes later, Colchester were in dreamland again.

Clive Platt headed down Lee Beevers' long clearance and after Theoklitos had only parried Lisbie's low drive, Platt tapped home from close range for 2-0.

Six minutes later, the U's were 3-0 up through Platt, who finished emphatically at the far post after Norwich had failed to deal sufficiently with Simon Hackney's cross.

And midfielder David Fox then capped his U's debut with a goal shortly after, curling in a fine free-kick.

After two angry Norwich fans had confronted the home bench, things got even better for Colchester seven minutes before the break.

Marc Tierney's long throw was helped on by the impressive Platt and Lisbie glanced the ball effortlessly past Theoklitos from six yards.

Lisbie almost completed his hat-trick for the U's just after the break after more superb link-up play, before Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams denied Owain Tudur Jones.

McDonald pulled a goal back for Norwich with 18 minutes to go when he got the better of Pat Baldwin and drilled through Williams' legs.

But Perkins thumped home a sixth for the U's ten minutes after replacing Hackney to make it 6-1 and Scott Vernon tapped in a seventh, after good play by Kem Izzet.

That allowed Colchester to celebrate a victory which will be remembered for years to come.

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's incredible victory at Norwich, see Monday's Gazette.