COLCHESTER United were beaten 3-0 by Premier League side Spurs in a pre-season friendly tonight, as fans returned to the JobServe Community Stadium for the first time in seven months.

First-half goals from Son Heung-Min, Lucas and Dele gave Tottenham a three-goal lead at the break, after an impressive attacking display by the visitors.

But Colchester looked more threatening in the second half and will feel they deserved at least a consolation goal, with Luke Chambers hitting the woodwork with a header.

Colchester fielded all six of their permanent signings in their starting line-up with Chambers, Cole Skuse, Alan Judge, Frank Nouble, Freddie Sears and Luke Hannant all starting.

Chambers started at right-back, with Nouble and Sears up front.

They faced a Spurs side that featured international stars such as Son, Dele, Lucas and Steven Bergwijn.

There was a fast tempo to the game from the start, with the Premier League side showing their class with a dazzling attacking display in the first half.

In the opening minutes, there was a sign of what was to come when Cameron Carter-Vickers just fails to get on the end of a ball in the six-yard box after Son’s free-kick into the box while from the resultant corner, Eric Dier headed over.

Dier nodded wide from another set-piece soon after but it was not all one-way traffic, with Nouble drilling a spectacular left-foot strike just past the right upright for the U’s after brilliantly turning past Dele on the edge of the Spurs area.

But Spurs looked sharp; Lucas was denied by Shamal George before the visitors took a 12th minute lead through Son, who tapped in from close range after Bergwijn’s pace had seen him before the offside trap and square for his team-mate.

Son drilled into the side netting for Spurs after another swift attack, before the North London side doubled their lead in the 14th minute when the skilful Lucas headed in at the near post from Son’s corner.

The pace of the contest slowed a little after that although Colchester did have a glimpse at goal 11 minutes before the break, when Hannant fired high and over from a difficult angle after good play by Sears had set him up.

But Spurs further added to their lead in the 37th minute through Dele, who bundled home from two yards after Son had escaped the Colchester defence and crossed from the right.

The U’s went in at half-time 3-0 down and Spurs made changes at the break, with Son, Dier and Oliver Skipp all going off.

Colchester started the second half brightly and almost pulled a goal back when Brendan Wiredu’s superb strike from the edge of the area was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Alfie Whiteman for a corner.

And the U’s came even closer to scoring just after the hour when Chambers’ header from Judge’s corner came back off the crossbar.

Nouble’s lung-busting run down the left resulted in a deflected shot that spun wide for a corner but Spurs ran out winners, as the U’s preparations for the new League Two season continued.

COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Eastman (sub Tchamadeu, 77), Smith (sub Spencer-Adams), Chambers (sub Coxe, 77), Clampin (sub Welch-Hayes, 77), Skuse (sub Kennedy, 77), Wiredu (sub Cornish, 81), Judge (sub Poku, 77), Hannant (sub Thomas, 77), Nouble (sub Kone, 77), Sears (sub Beadle, 77).

Spurs: Whiteman, Carter-Vickers (Oluwayemi, 66), Dier (sub Tanganga, 46), Paskotsi (sub Cesay, 66), Omole (sub Lyons-Foster, 66), Skipp (sub Scarlett, 46), Winks (sub White, 66), Dele (sub Fagan-Walcott, 66), Bergwijn (sub Devine, 66), Lucas (Parrott, 66), Son (sub John, 46).

Goals: Spurs: Son (12), Lucas (14), Dele (37).

Bookings: Colchester: Wiredu (foul, 58).

Referee: C Hicks.