Tommy O’Sullivan scored a hat-trick as Colchester United cruised into the Essex Senior Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive 7-1 win at Brentwood Town.

Eoin McKeown (2), Decarrey Sheriff and Tariq Issa were also on target for the U’s in freezing conditions, for the fourth-round tie at The Arena.

Colchester, who fielded the likes of Craig Slater, Cameron James and Cole Kpekawa in what was otherwise an under-23 side, bossed the first half against their Bostik League division north opponents and bagged four goals before the break.

Sheriff screwed a low shot wide of the far post in the fifth minute after being sent through by O’Sullivan’s pass.

But they took the lead three minutes later through O’Sullivan, who poked home a low shot first time after running onto Diaz Wright’s incisive pass.

Diaz Wright’s fierce long-range effort was beaten away by goalkeeper Anthony Page and Sheriff failed to properly connect with a close range header from Issa’s cross and the ball went harmlessly wide, as Colchester pushed for a second.

It came on the half hour when Sheriff finished smartly first time from close range, after Courtney Senior had advanced down the right and delivered an accurate cross into the six-yard box.

Brentwood threatened spasmodically and they were largely limited to long-range efforts, with Bademosi’s low strike well held low down by goalkeeper Dan Wilks who was mainly a spectator in the first half.

Cole Kpekawa’s 30-yard effort flew inches over the bar before with ten minutes to go until half-time, O’Sullivan made it 3-0 when he tapped home first time from close range after Senior had advanced and picked him out.

And on the stroke of the interval, Colchester added a fourth through Issa, who finished smartly first time past the keeper following JJ Wilson’s ball into the area.

Colchester needed less than a minute in the second half to make it 5-0.

Substitute McKeown converted from close range, following Issa’s ball into his path.

Brentwood pulled a goal back in the 56th minute when right-back Joe Gardner advanced into the area before drilling a shot past Wilks.

But Colchester restored their five-goal advantage through McKeown, who eventually stabbed home after a mistake by goalkeeper Page had allowed O’Sullivan to deliver a cross into the area.

Page pushed away efforts from Slater and substitute Charley Edge while at the other end, Bademosi’s deflected effort went just over, as the clock ticked down.

And O'Sullivan completed his hat-trick with seven minutes remaining when he coolly went past keeper Page and slotted into the empty net.

Brentwood hit the woodwork just before the end but the U's were easy winners, in front of a crowd of 143.

Colchester United: Wilks, James, W Wright, Wilson, Kpekawa, Diaz Wright (sub Edge, 58), Slater, O'Sullivan, Senior (sub Dunne, 64), Sheriff (sub McKeown, 46), Issa.

Substitutes (not used): Brown, Clarke.

Brentwood Town: Page, Gardner (sub Pugsley, 66), Martin, Jones (sub Wiggins, 60), Gibbs, Cavalier, Hilton, Robson, Bademosi, Hall, Freeman (sub Barnwell, 66).

Substitutes (not used): Foster, Price.