SAMSON Tovide scored a fine hat-trick as Colchester United won 3-2 in the first of their two 60-minute friendlies at Ebbsfleet United this afternoon.

The promising striker showed his clinical finishing by scoring three times for the U's, as they triumphed in a competitive affair against their National League hosts.

With new signing Owen Goodman watching from the sidelines, Colchester lined up in their first game with Connor Hall as skipper and Nico Lawrence and Frankie Terry in central defence, with Jayden Fevrier and Alex Newby as wing-backs.

Ebbsfleet went ahead in the 11th minute through Luke O’Neil’s free-kick which sailed past the U’s wall and goalkeeper Sam Hornby from the edge of the area, after Frankie Terry had been penalised for a foul on Shaq Coulthirst.

But Colchester were behind for less than three minutes, with Tovide tapping home at the far post to equaliser from Fevrier's low cross, after some fine skill by Hall had set up the chance.

John Akinde forced former Colchester goalkeeper Mark Cousins to make a good save at his near post in the 20th minute, after the experienced striker had found room in the Ebbsfleet area.

But Colchester went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Tovide raced onto Arthur Read's fine through pass and fired a composed low finish past Cousins, for his second of the game.

Colchester pressed for a third in the opening seconds after the interval and Cousins made a stop with his feet to deny Tovide his hat-trick while seconds later, Tovide was inches away from connecting with Newby's low cross into the area.

However, Ebbsfleet were back on level terms in the 34th minute when Greg Cundle tapped into an empty net unmarked, from O'Neill's pass.

The game was a competitive affair for a friendly, with the referee showing several yellow cards.

But Colchester restored their lead in the 49th minute through Tovide, who finished smartly past Cousins from close range from Newby's pass to complete his hat-trick after the visitors had quickly counter attacked following an Ebbsfleet chance, at the other end.

Ebbsfleet finished the game with only ten men after experienced left-back Joe Martin was sent off for a second bookable offence, following some words towards the referee, as Colchester claimed victory.

Colchester starting XI (first game): Hornby, Lawrence, Terry, Hall, Read, Newby, Thomas, Jay, Fevrier, Tovide, Akinde.