COLCHESTER United's under-18s claimed a thumping 5-1 win over league leaders Charlton Athletic, writes BRIAN WALLER.

Liam Bailey's (pictured below) side were in prolific form in their Professional Development League clash at Park Drive, home of Maldon and Tiptree FC.

Bradley Ihionvien's deflected strike was well saved at his near post by Addicks keeper Henry Molyneux, early on.

Molyneux denied Bennett with his legs soon after, before Colchester broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion after 24 minutes.

Inionvien spotted Molyneux a few yards off his line and sent in a sensational 35-yard chip which the backtracking keeper tried in vain to keep out.

Charlton responded well to going behind and U's keeper Jaime Tedaldi did really well to push the ball around the post for a corner.

The visitors went close again when left-back Matt Dench's left-foot shot flew just wide of Tedaldi's right-hand post.

But Colchester also looked dangerous and Ihionvien rolled a shot just wide of the right-hand post.

Having led 1-0 at the interval, Colchester were to enjoy a prosperous second half.

They doubled their lead six minutes after the break through Kacy Parish, who fired in a left-foot effort after Kaan Bennett's effort had been blocked.

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Colchester really should have got another straight away as Ihionvien sent a tame effort at the keeper when well placed, after Sean Brown's cross had picked him out.

But Ihionvien soon atoned for it; he drove in to make it 3-0 on 57 minutes, after Bennett's shot had been blocked.

Charlton came very close to pulling a goal back when Tedaldi somehow clawed Mack Reilly's header from his goal-line, down to his right.

Ihionvien then went close again, lobbing the advancing keeper but seeing his attempt drop just wide of the right-hand post after he had been played through on the left.

But Colchester were not finished and when the ball was fed up to Ihionvien, he controlled before burying a left-foot shot, to complete his hat-trick.

The U's scored a fifth with five minutes remaining through substitute Samson Uwandu, who fired home on the swivel from Redgrave's cross.

There was still time for Charlton to grab a stoppage-time consolation goal through Patrick Casey who glanced a header into the net from Tolu Ladapo's cross, but it was Colchester's day.

U's U18: Jaime Tedaldi, Benedict Bioletti, Bradley Chakawa, Frankie Terry, Isaac Evans, Sean Brown (sub Kai Redgrave), Kacy Parish, Ryan Lowe, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, Bradley Ihionvien (sub Samson Uwandu), Kaan Bennett (sub Ewan Gordon-Clement). Subs (not used): Jayden Peglar, Darnell Asare-Williams.