Cureton the hero as City thump lowly Colchester

Last updated : 22 March 2008 By Rick Lamb
Glenn Roeder's Norwich moved clear of the relegation battle with a resounding victory over a seemingly doomed Colchester United.

Former Layer Road favourite Jamie Cureton led the way for the Canaries with a hat-trick sandwiched by Jon Otsemobor's first for the club and a late Dion Dublin strike. Kevin Lisbie had pulled a goal back for the visitors to make the half time score 2-1.

Otsemobor's early goal relaxed Norwich and they went further ahead when Cureton converted a Darren Huckerby cross. Into the second half Cureton made it 3-1 from the spot after Matty Pattison, who started despite having a difficult week off the field, was brought down.

New loan signing Maceo Rigters came on for Huckerby with 12 minutes left and from his centre in the 87th minute Cureton bagged his hat-trick before Dublin, due to retire at the end of the season, put the icing on the cake in the final minute.