Colchester United progressed to the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup with a 4-1 triumph over ten-man AFC Hornchurch tonight.

Goals from Bradley Hamilton, Karl Duguid, Tom Eastman and Steven Gillespie gave the U’s victory over their Ryman League Premier opponents, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Midfielder John-Joe O’Toole tasted his first match action for six weeks following his groin injury and appeared to come through the opening hour of the game unscathed.

But the evening was less successful for the U’s Australian trialist Jason Ricciuti, who limped off after only 20 minutes.

Colchester, watched from the stands by first-team manager John Ward and assistant manager Joe Dunne fielded an experienced side against their high-flying visitors.

And it did not take the U’s long to take the lead, with their young defender Hamilton flicking them ahead from Lloyd James’ corner.

Goalkeeper Mark Cousins was called into action for the first time in the game soon after when he plucked Michael Spencer’s long-range effort out from underneath his own crossbar.

And the U’s were forced into an early substitution when Ricciuti limped off following a heavy challenge from Hornchurch centre-back Ronnie Fletcher.

Craig Arnott took Ricciuti’s place in attack and almost got on the scoresheet ten minutes before the interval when he was denied by Urchins goalkeeper Joe Woolley, following a swift Colchester break.

But the U’s were not to be denied for long and Duguid lashed in their second goal of the night from 25 yards, nine minutes before half-time.

Things went from bad to worse for the non-league side four minutes later when their midfielder Andy Tomlinson was controversially sent off after raising his arm towards Colchester playmaker James.

Cousins was called into action on the stroke of half-time when he denied veteran Tommy Black at his near post but the U’s were firmly in control of the tie.

Only the crossbar prevented Gillespie from making it 3-0 with a lobbed effort in the opening minutes of the second half and then tested Woolley again with a low shot, soon after.

But Hornchurch gave themselves a fighting chance midway through the second half through substitute Sam Bantick, who collected possession on the edge of the area and steadied himself before curling a precise shot into the top corner.

However, the U’s restored their two-goal advantage with 15 minutes to go when Eastman nodded in from close range, after Gillespie had headed back John White’s deep cross.

And Gillespie rounded off Colchester’s comprehensive win with four minutes to go when he fired in a low, long-range shot which crept in at the near post.

Colchester United: Cousins, Rose, Eastman, Hamilton, White, O’Toole (sub Sanderson, 61), Coker (sub Ladapo, 81), Duguid, James, Gillespie, Ricciuti (sub Arnott, 21). Substitutes (not used): Gilbey, O’Sullivan.