A HAT-TRICK from Tom Stagg helped a rampant Colchester United's under-18s side claim an emphatic 6-0 win over their Ipswich Town counterparts this afternoon, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Marley Marshall-Miranda was also on target for the U's, in their Professional Development League Two game.

If the form guide was anything to go by prior to kick-off, the result had looked unlikely.

Colchester made the short trip up the A12 to face their Suffolk rivals totally out of form and with just one win in 13 league and cup games, since the end of September.

In contrast, Town were in excellent form, sitting second in the table, knowing that a win against their Essex opponents would see them regain top spot again from Charlton.

Indeed, form at the venue did not favour Colchester as they had lost 6-3 and 6-1 on their last two visits to the Playford Training Ground.

But fresh from their FA Youth Cup win at the weekend over Swindon Town, the hosts saw their hopes destroyed by a scintillating performance by Colchester who scored three times in each half.

It was a shame that U’s supporters were not able to witness the U’s exciting performance that saw their goals come from a Stagg hat-trick, Marshall-Miranda's strike, an own goal and a goal from a trialist.