Shell-shocked Colchester United sunk to a heavy 3-0 defeat at in-form Port Vale after being soundly beaten at Vale Park this afternoon.

The U's were no match for a vibrant Vale side who did not look back from the moment the outstanding James Gibbons gave them a seventh-minute lead.

James Wilson doubled Vale's advantage nine minutes later and substitute Aaron Martin extended it further in the second half, as Colchester experienced a miserable afternoon.

Indeed, while the U's did have their chances their margin of defeat might have been greater had it not been for the competence of goalkeeper Shamal George, who made several saves throughout the game.

Colchester boss Hayden Mullins made two changes to his starting line-up for the Port Vale game.

Captain Tommy Smith was recalled to defence in place of Junior Tchamadeu who missed out due to suspension, while Noah Chilvers came back into the side with Sylvester Jasper dropping to the bench.

Miles Welch-Hayes made his first appearance in the U’s matchday 18 for nearly two months after being named among the substitutes, following a hamstring injury.

Colchester were looking to make a solid start but they fell behind in only the seventh minute.

After skipper Tom Conlon had picked out Gibbons’ run down the U’s right, the Vale left-sided player planted a fine right-foot shot past Shamal George and into the far corner of the net.

Buoyed by the goal, Vale very nearly doubled their lead, seven minutes later.

Colchester keeper George pulled off a fine double save to first push away Dennis Politic’s fierce effort and then deny Wilson’s close-range follow-up.

But Wilson did not have to wait too much longer to get on the scoresheet.

The former Manchester United youngster turned and planted a precise low shot into the far corner after good play by Politic had set him up in the area, leaving the U’s with a mountain to climb.

Vale were in the ascendency but Colchester almost halved the deficit, just before the half hour.

Freddie Sears was slipped in by Frank Nouble but was denied by Vale’s on-rushing keeper Lucas Covolan and Luke Hannant sent a far-post header over from Nouble’s deep cross, as the U’s tried to battle back.

Colchester had an even better chance to reduce the deficit six minutes before the break when the unmarked Brendan Wiredu sent a free header wide from six yards, after Charlie Daniels had curled in a delightful cross from the left.

But Vale still threatened and George pushed away Politic’s shot from the edge of the area, as half-time approached.

Conlon's fierce strike from the edge of the area whistled past the U’s post, as the hosts went in at the break in charge.

Colchester made a change at half-time, sending on Welch-Hayes for Tom Eastman and switching Luke Chambers to centre-half.

They almost pulled a goal back in the opening minutes of the second half when Chilvers' rasping effort from the edge of the area whistled just over the bar.

But Vale remained dangerous and could well have extended their lead through Devante Rodney, who hooked wide from close range after Nathan Smith's header had caused problems in the U's six-yard box.

Indeed, Colchester fell further behind just after the hour mark when substitute Martin got in front of his marker in the six-yard box and nudged home from Conlon's corner, for Vale's third.

Minutes later, George saved with his legs to deny Gibbons, whose run had once again been picked out in the area.

George pushed away Jake Taylor's long-range effort and Lewis Cass drilled a low shot just wide of the far post for Vale, as the clock ticked down.

Substitute David Amoo curled a great chance wide for the hosts in stoppage-time and although Frank Nouble forced a save from Covolan before the end, Vale claimed a deserved victory.

For the U's, it was very much a day to forget.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Chambers, Eastman (sub Welch-Hayes, 46), Smith, Daniels, Skuse (sub Kennedy, 80), Wiredu, Chilvers, Hannant, Sears (sub Tovide, 68), Nouble.

Subs (not used): Coxe, Dobra, Jasper, Turner.

Port Vale: Covolan, Gibbons, Jones, Smith, Pett, Cass, Politic (sub Taylor, 64), Worrall (sub Martin, 57), Rodney (sub Amoo, 70), Conlon, Wilson.

Subs (not used): Walker, Benning, Lloyd, Stone.

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge.

Bookings: Colchester: Wiredu (foul, 7), Chilvers (foul, 52). Port Vale: Gibbons (foul, 75).

Goals: Port Vale: Gibbons (7), Wilson (16), Martin (61).

Attendance: 5,423 (176 U's fans).