Freddie Sears scored four times as Colchester United kept up their free-scoring pre-season with an 8-1 win at Ryman Premier side Leiston.

Sears has now netted nine times in the U's opening four friendles, while Joe Dunne's side have scored 24 times overall.

Colchester took the lead after five minutes through new signing Dan Holman who headed home Gavin Massey's cross.

And Massey got on the scoresheet himself three minutes before the break with a powerful shot that flew in off the underside of the crossbar.

Sammie Szmodics lashed home from inside the box to make it 3-0, before U's boss Dunne rung the changes at half-time.

Leiston pulled a goal back through Gareth Heath but Sears then scored twice in as many minutes to give Colchester a 5-1 lead.

Drey Wright scored Colchester's sixth on the hour mark after finishing from Tom Eastman's pass before Sears scored twice more - once from the penalty spot after Alex Gilbey had been fouled - to complete another emphatic friendly win for the U's.

For a full match report and all of the latest Colchester United news, see Monday's Daily Gazette.