Colchester United produced a scintillating performance to turn on the style and thrash Crewe Alexandra 6-0.

The U’s were simply unplayable at times and went goal crazy to maintain their fine start to the new league season, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

It was their biggest-ever victory at the stadium and their largest home win since beating Lincoln City, in 1996.

They were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to Brennan Dickenson’s brace and Frankie Kent’s opener, before further goals from Ryan Jackson, Luke Norris and Tom Lapslie in the second half wrapped up a huge win to boost their promotion credentials.

It is now eight points from a possible 12 for Colchester, with nine goals scored and just one conceded.

Colchester head coach John McGreal chose an unchanged side for the game against Crewe, following their 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town.

He also named the same substitutes, with the U’s having no new injury worries.

Colchester ran Crewe ragged in the first half and started the game at a high tempo, putting the visitors under immediate pressure.

They made the early breakthrough they were looking for in the fourth minute, albeit through an unlikely source.

After Crewe had failed to clear Dickenson’s free-kick pumped into their box and Sammie Szmodics had an effort blocked near the line from Frank Nouble’s header, defender Kent lifted the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

It was a great start for McGreal’s side and they went further ahead, four minutes later.

After Dickenson picked up possession 25 yards out, he unleashed a fine left-foot shot that flew past goalkeeper Dave Richards for 2-0.

It was the first time Colchester had struck twice in the opening eight minutes of a game since Kevin Rapley and Scott McGleish netted in a 3-1 victory over Northampton Town at Layer Road, back in September 2001.

Crewe struggled to get out of their own half in the opening stages, as the U’s went in search of further reward.

But they got their first glimpse of goal in the 17th minute when former Colchester skipper Chris Porter sent a glancing header straight at goalkeeper Dillon Barnes from close range, following Harry Pickering’s ball into the area.

However, Colchester almost extended their lead soon after when some great build-up work from Senior and Frank Nouble resulted in Dickenson's goalbound shot from close range deflecting over for a corner.

And it was 3-0 in the 27th minute when Dickenson lifted a shot into the roof of the net at the far post, after Jackson's long throw into the box had been allowed to sail across the area.

The hosts had a shout for a penalty just after the half hour when Kent tumbled in the area and it really should have been 4-0 when Senior was sent through by Dickenson, only to be denied by the on-rushing Crewe keeper Richards as the visitors were run ragged.

Skipper Luke Prosser’s towering header from a corner was well plucked out of the air by Richards, as the U’s went in at the break in complete control after a superb first-half display.

Unsurprisingly, Crewe made a double change at half-time, with Michael Raynes and Jordan Bowery on for Nicky Hunt and George Ray.

It made a difference but Colchester still created chances and Nouble screwed a low shot wide from close range ten minutes after the break, after Jackson's fine pass had sent him clear in the area.

And it was 4-0 just before the hour when Jackson slammed a low shot under Richards and in, after Senior’s shot had been blocked from Szmodics’ cross following a rapid breakaway from a poor Crewe corner.

Substitute Norris made it 5-0 with 16 minutes remaining with a neat low finish into the far corner, after Kane Vincent-Young had picked him out.

And three minutes later Colchester added a sixth through Lapslie, who gleefully side-footed home from Dickenson’s short pass as Colchester went goal crazy.