James Brown scored twice in a minute as Hartlepool blitzed Colchester.

Brown fired the opener on 13 minutes following a smart turn and he made it 2-0 when he slid the ball home after Willie Boland's quick free-kick.

Boland curled in a superb 25-yard shot to make it 3-0 and debutant Ritchie Jones added a fourth, blasting the ball home after cutting in from the right.

Steve Gillespie pulled one back from the spot after Boland handled and Gillespie's header made it 4-2 late on.

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Jones, Boland, Liddle, Monkhouse (Robson 85), Porter (Barker 89), Brown (Foley 82).
Subs Not Used: McCunnie, Power.

Booked: Nelson.

Goals: Brown 13, 14, Boland 66, Jones 76.

Colchester: Gerken, White, Coyne, Reid, Lockwood, Yeates, Hammond (Izzet 71), Jackson, Wordsworth (Wasiu 62), Vernon (Platt 71), Gillespie.
Subs Not Used: Heath, Cousins.

Goals: Gillespie 78 pen, 90.

Att: 3,831.

Ref: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).