ASIDE from football chat, much of the pre-match natter in the press room at Colchester United concerned Storm Ciara.

Menacingly, strong gales and heavy rain were reportedly on their way - due to lash the country overnight on Saturday.

Before that, though, it was the U's, rather than the weather, that went down a storm, leaving Plymouth in a spin and blown away inside 45 minutes.

Far from battening down the hatches, the Pilgrims left themselves open to damage and destruction as the rampant U's turned in their finest performance of the season - a whirlwind opening half that spawned two goals for Theo Robinson and one, the opener, from Ben Stevenson.

John McGreal's men played with such gust-o, confidence, speed and intensity and, remarkably, they would have scored even more, were it not for the woodwork.

It was a joy to watch and while much credit clearly goes to their frontmen, boss John McGreal got his selection and tactics spot on.

It was bold move to make three changes, following the disappointment of last week's lacklustre defeat at Cambridge United.

But to see Stevenson, Robinson and man-of-the-match Callum Harriott return to the fray and sparkle will have been hugely satisfying for the U's boss.

Rightly and deservedly, Colchester received plenty of plaudits for their recent 16-match unbeaten run, in League Two.

It was a sizeable achievement.

However, also impressive has been their imperious home form - something that will undoubtedly be a key ingredient, if they are to go on and realise their promotion dream this season.

The U's have only lost twice at the JobServe Community Stadium, against bogey team Cambridge and then Morecambe, in mid-October.

Since the latter setback, they have played nine games on home turf, winning six and drawing three.

Clearly, that trend must continue - starting tomorrow night, when larger-than-life Ian Holloway brings his Grimsby Town side to north Essex.

Throughout the course of this season, it would be hard to pick many faults with Colchester's form. They've been consistent and impressive.

However, one criticism would be their occasional inability to kill off supposedly-lesser sides.

Take the back-to-back draws against Stevenage and Morecambe, for example.

Grimsby, similarly, are another very beatable side.

Languishing 18th and with just one win in six, they won't fancy their trip south - especially when they hear about Saturday's dismantling of Plymouth.

It won't be a breeze and complacency could be catastrophic, on Colchester's part.

But confidence should be sky high and if they can replicate this performance, another three points will surely be heading their way.