Colchester United got their pre-season off to a thumping start with an 8-0 friendly win over Heybridge Swifts this afternoon. Chris Porter and Drey Wright both scored twice and Olly Lee, George Moncur, Macauley Bonne and Sammie Szmodics were also on target, as the U’s went goal crazy against their Ryman League division one north opponents at a humid Texo Stadium, Scraley Road. Colchester’s squad featured two trialists - Lee who is a free agent after leaving Birmingham City at the end of last season and former Aston Villa, Cardiff City and Bristol City goalkeeper Elliott Parish. Each played 45 minutes but neither goalkeeper Sam Walker nor new signing George Elokobi featured for the U’s, as they ease into pre-season. Colchester fielded two teams in either half – and the side that played the opening 45 minutes ensured they went in at half-time with a healthy lead. It took the U’s 24 minutes to make a breakthrough, with their opening goal coming barely a minute after Cameron James and Tom Eastman had combined to save Shamido Pedulu’s effort off the line. Porter, who skippered the U’s in the first half, prodded them ahead at the far post from Richard Brindley’s cross. And the goals began to flow for Colchester after that. Brindley was again the provider just after the half hour when his low cross was turned into an empty net by trialist Lee from close range. And nine minutes before the break, Porter made it 3-0 from the spot after Dan Holman had been fouled by Damien Green in the area. The U’s added a fourth goal three minutes later through Moncur, who fired home a first-time shot from the edge of the area after keeper Sam Cowler had parried Holman’s fierce effort. Colchester fielded an entirely different side in the second half, with the likes of Frankie Kent, new signing Joe Edwards and Szmodics all featuring. And their level of dominance remained. After Briggs’ sweet 30-yard drive came back off the outside of a post, Colchester made it 5-0 when Wright’s long-range effort flew past Cowler and inside his near post. Bonne’s persistence paid off when he scrambled home from close range to make it 6-0, after good work by Briggs down the left. And the U’s added a seventh goal with 13 minutes remaining through Szmodics, who lifted the ball over the on-rushing substitute keeper Palmer and in from Briggs’ precise pass. There was still time for Wright to slot home an eighth after Swifts were robbed of possession in a key area, as the U’s got their pre-season campaign off to a prolific start, in front of a crowd of 534.