Colchester's Payne scores first career hat-trick

Colchester's Jack Payne scored his first career hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Chesterfield.

What happened?

The 30-year-old midfielder netted twice in the first half and completed his treble in added time. Payne made his English Football League debut for Southend United in 2013 and has also played for Lincoln City and Swindon Town.

Why it matters for Colchester

The win was Colchester's first six-goal outing in a league game since August 2018. Harry Anderson also scored twice, including a 96th-minute effort. Payne praised Anderson's performance, saying he was close to getting a hat-trick as well.

What comes next?

Colchester are currently 12th in League Two with 66 points, 21 points behind leaders Bromley. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a record of 2W-0D-3L in their last 5 games. However, they are on a 2-game winning run, including a 4-1 win over Cheltenham on May 2, 2026.