Colchester United under-23s ran out thumping 5-1 winners at league leaders Queens Park Rangers in Professional Development League Two, this afternoon, writes Brian Waller.

Wayne Brown's side came from behind to emphatically win at Rangers' Harlington-based training ground, in West London.

It was a fine result and performance from the U's against opponents who had only lost twice all season in the league and had won the other eight matches.

QPR took a seventh-minute lead when Dan Darbyshire got a shot away and despite a good save by Dan Wilks, Reece Grego-Cox was on hand to put away the rebound.

After Rangers took the lead, the U's missed the opportunity to equalise after 20 minutes when Tariq Issa won a penalty but saw his spot-kick saved by keeper Martin Herdman.

However, Will Wright equalised from the spot eight minutes before the break after Colchester were awarded another penalty.

And five minutes later, the U's went ahead when Tarryn Allarakhia rounded Herdman and slotted in.

It gave Colchester a half-time lead and it was almost 3-1 early in the second half when Louis Dunne fired over.

But the visitors went further ahead midway through the second half when Issa fired home at the near post.

Eoin McKeown quickly made it 4-1 to the U's soon after and Courtney Senior wrapped up the visitors' win with 15 minutes remaining with a fine strike from inside the near post, to secure Colchester's youngsters a big victory.

COLCHESTER UNITED U23 (squad): Wilks, Brown, Wilson, W. Wright, Kensdale, Warde, Edge, Senior, Issa, Allarakhia, McKeown, Dunne, Sheriff, Ager, Sturgess, Clarke.