Two superb late goals from Sammie Szmodics sealed Colchester United a 4-0 win over Bostik League premier division side Needham Market in their latest friendly at a rain-soaked Bloomfields tonight.

Denny Johnstone and Tariq Issa were also on target for John McGreal's side who made it two wins out of two in pre-season, as they secured a comfortable victory as they continued their build-up to the new League Two season.

The majority of the Colchester squad got at least 45 minutes each on the pitch but the game was too early for likes of Luke Prosser and Kurtis Guthrie, as they continue their injury comebacks.

Frankie Kent blasted over with the goal at his mercy early on for Colchester, while Tom Lapslie and Johnstone also went close for the visitors in the opening stages.

But Needham Market spurned a golden opportunity to take a 20th minute lead when striker John Sands fired over an open goal after being left alone in the U's area.

However, after Drey Wright had drilled a weak shot straight at the keeper, Colchester made the breakthrough in the 25th minute.

After Wright's shot had been saved by the keeper, Johnstone tapped into the net for 1-0.

U's keeper Sam Walker saved Kent's blushes after a mistake by the U's defender had allowed Sands to fire in a shot from close range, seconds before Kent cleared off the line.

But Colchester came close to adding to their lead just before half-time, with Tom Eastman's far post header drifting just wide and Doug Loft's parried away by the keeper.

However, Walker was called upon to palm a deflected cross onto his own bar and away for a corner seconds before the break, as Colchester went in ahead.

The U's made four changes as the rain increased in the second half, with the likes of Sean Murray, Szmodics and Cameron James all involved after the interval.

Needham were almost back on level terms six minutes after half-time when Sands' effort struck the bottom of the post and bounced back out.

But less than a minute later, Wright repeated the feat at the end with his effort also striking a post.

And the U's eventually doubled their lead with ten minutes remaining through youngster Issa, who tapped in from close range after fellow substitute Louis Dunne's long-range effort had been parried by the Needham keeper.

Szmodics was foiled by the Needham keeper late on but added a third in the 88th minute with a fine 25-yard effort.

And Szmodics was on target again a minute later with a spectacular shot that flew past the keeper and in off the far post, from a tight angle.

Szmodics was only denied a spectacular hat-trick a minute later by the keeper, as the U's claimed a convincing win over their non-league opponents.

Colchester's next game in their pre-season programme is a game at Welsh Premier League side Llandudno, on Friday night.

Colchester United (first half): Walker, Kinsella, Kent, Eastman, Wynter, Vincent-Young, Loft, Slater, Lapslie, Drey Wright, Johnstone.

Second half: Walker (sub Gilmartin, 62), James, Wynter (sub Eastman, 62), Loft (sub Kent, 62), Kinsella (sub Dunne, 62), Murray, Lapslie (sub Edge, 62), Vincent-Young (sub Brown, 62), Szmodics, Wright, McKeown.