16:51 Full Time - FL1 Scunthorpe 3 Colchester 0
Hooper at the double for Iron A goal in each half from top scorer Gary Hooper set Scunthorpe on their way to a third successive home win as they defeated Colchester 3-0.
oper opened the scoring in the 36th minute as he calmly took the ball around goalkeeper Mark Cousins before slotting home.
The 21-year-old striker made it 2-0 in the 59th minute, racing clear from the halfway line before driving his 29th goal of the season past Cousins.
The visitors had little luck throughout the game and their day was epitomised as striker Karl Hawley's rifled shot flew past keeper Joe Murphy only to hit both bar and post before staying out.
Scunthorpe completed the scoring in the 69th minute when teenager Henri Lansbury, on-loan from Arsenal, worked himself an opening in the box before producing a brilliant finish into the bottom corner.
Victory maintains Scunthorpe's place in the top six but defeat for Colchester ends any feint hopes they may have had of a late run for the play-offs.
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Our worst show yet, fumes LambertCOLCHESTER United boss Paul Lambert kept his team in the dressing room for 20 minutes after the final whistle, following a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Scunthorpe.
Lambert was unhappy with his side's second-half showing, which effectively ended all hopes of scraping into the play-offs.
“I thought we were decent in the first half, and could have been in front at half-time,†said Lambert.
“But the second-half performance was about as poor as I've seen since I've been at the club. It was disappointing for everyone, the players and the fans who come to watch us.
“We were trying to play offside for the first goal, though I don't know why. The second goal was poor and we got caught on the break for the third, when we gave their lad (Henri Lansbury) too much time and space.
“However, I also thought we should have had a stone-wall penalty (foul on Mark Yeates) when it was still only 1-0. I've seen that on the video and it was a definite penalty.
“In fact, I thought the referee was abysmal all afternoon. His decisions were poor for both teams,†added Lambert.
A brace from Gary Hooper and a third from Lansbury sealed the points for Scunthorpe. The U's afternoon was summed up by Johnnie Jackson's brief appearance as a substitute - he lasted just three minutes before injuring his hamstring.