Walsall claimed their third consecutive League Two win with a storming 4-0 victory over Colchester.

Jamie Jellis and Albert Adomah struck either side of half-time before Jack Earing added a late double for the Saddlers, who moved two points clear at the top of the table before the 3pm kick-offs.

The visitors dominated the opening 10 minutes but failed to test Tommy Simkin in the Saddlers goal and the first real effort of note came from Walsall midfielder Ryan Stirk which flew wide in the 18th minute.

The breakthrough came after 39 minutes when central defender Taylor Allen collected a throw-in inside his own half and then lofted a long ball forward to Jellis, who darted in on goal and fired past goalkeeper Matt Macey.

The Saddlers started the second half strongly with Jellis forcing a decent diving save from Macey before visiting skipper Tom Flanagan had an effort blocked at the other end.

But it was the home side who looked the more threatening and it came as no surprise when they doubled their lead in the 79th minute when a low ball into the centre from Connor Barrett was turned in by substitute Adomah.

Fellow replacement Earing wrapped things up with two goals in the final two minutes. He drilled home from the edge of the area after Macey palmed away Nathan Lowe’s shot and he bagged his second after the U’s were caught on the break.