Town's U18s eased their way into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of Colchester United at Layer Road. The Blues dominated from start to finish with the goals coming from Darryl Knights (2), Aidan Collins, Liam Craig and Billy Clarke.

The first action of the game saw Colchester's David Wareham booked for a late and high tackle on Town's Sammy Moore. From the freekick central defender Chris Casement found Billy Clarke on the edge of the area, the Irishman sending a curling shot just wide.

On eight, midfielder Liam Trotter challenged a Colchester defender inside the area, the ball only narrowly flying wide of the post.

A minute later, skipper Liam Craig, playing on the left of midfield, was put through one-on-one but keeper Mark Cousins blocked his shot.

It was all Town with Colchester clearly out to try to stifle the Blues' slick passing by playing five in midfield and leaving only star man Jamie Guy up front.

Craig headed a Cathal Lordan cross to the keeper, before the Irishman, on the right-side of midfield, rode a couple of tackles prior to laying the ball off to Darryl Knights who shot wide.

Just after the half hour mark, Knights's shot on the turn was blocked. Town continued the pressure on the U's and a fine move involving Clarke and Craig ended with Cousins saving Owen Garvan's shot.

On 42 Wareham struck Colchester's first shot of the game, however, his 25-yard effort failed to test Shane Supple.

The Blues finally went ahead in injury time when Garvan hit a poor 20-yard freekick into the Colchester wall. The ball cannoned to Knights on the left and the England U17 international shot on the turn off a defender and into the net.

It was the perfect time for the Blues to go in front and a lead that was very much deserved after a half they had completely dominated.

Five minutes into the second half Colchester captain Robbie King headed a corner straight to Shane Supple but it was Town who would soon be adding to their goals.

On 52 Liam Craig whipped in a corner from the left and central defender Aidan Collins headed powerfully past Cousins.

A minute later Town were three-up. Craig sent in a deep cross from the left, Lordan knocked the ball back into the box and Knights stabbed home.

It was all too easy for the Blues and it was becoming a matter of how many goals they were going to score. Three goals down, Colchester changed their approach, replacing Wareham and Craig Hughes with Anthony Wordsworth and Stephen Opoka.

Collins headed another excellent Craig cross over the bar in the 55th minute, before Clarke felt he should have had a penalty when felled by Cousins. Referee Mr Woolmer looked set to award a spotkick until he saw his linesman's flag raised for offside.

Irish striker Clarke was having an industrious evening alongside the similarly productive Kinghts but unlike his English counterpart a goal just wouldn't come. In the 66th minute the U19 international cut in from the left but his shot was blocked, Cathal Lordan sending the rebound well over the bar.

Clarke put an audacious lob wide on 68, prior to Knights striking a 30 yarder which Cousins grabbed at the second attempt.

Town's fourth came in the 73rd minute. Lordan crossed low from the right beyond the ever-eager Knights but man of the match Craig was on hand at the far post to bundle the ball over the line.

The Blues made their first substitutions of the game before the restart, Scottish midfielder Fraser Beveridge replacing the excellent Jason Dozzell-a-like Liam Trotter and Danny Haynes taking over on the right of midfield from Cathal Lordan.

As the game entered the final five minutes, Aidan Collins picked up a yellow card for timewasting after kicking the ball away, although it appeared he was under the impression that the referee had awarded Town a freekick and not the U's. Soon after Clarke picked up a caution for dissent, the linesman having missed an extremely tardy challenge from a Colchester defender.

With three minutes left on the clock Clarke got his reward for his evening's efforts when Knights played him in one-on-one and he slid the ball beyond Cousins and into the net. When he'd finished celebrating, Charlie Sheringham, playing his second game of the day, replaced him in the Town attack.

A thoroughly deserved victory for Town's superb U18 side. They were in control from start to finish with Liam Craig the evening's top man. The Colchester defence had no answer to the pace, quick feet and movement of Clarke and Knights, while the midfield passed the ball slickly throughout, with Garvan as usual pulling the strings.

Jamie Guy, who has already played for Colchester's first team, was by far their best player but Casement and Collins prevented him from having any serious efforts on goal. Shane Supple wasn't called upon to make a taxing save during the entire game.

Town, who now must be in with a real chance of their third FA Youth Cup, face the winners of Thursday's tie between Watford and Tottenham in their first semi-final since 2000/01.

The semis are played over two legs, with the first game at Portman Road on a date prior to Saturday, 9th April and the second away leg before Saturday, 23rd April.

The two-legged final, covered live by Sky, will be played on Monday, 23rd May and Friday, 27th May. The Blues, if they make it that far, will want to play the home leg first, as the stage from the Neil Diamond gig the previous night is likely to still be in place on the day of the second game.

U18s: Supple, Moore, Krause, Trotter (Beveridge 77), Casement, Collins, Lordan (Lordan 77), Garvan, Clarke (Sheringham 87), Knights, Craig. Unused: Ainsley, Hammond.

Photo: Action Images

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