City manager Glenn Pennyfather said: "It's a great day for the club, quite an historic one and it's the third successive season we've made the second round so I must be doing something right!
"It's a dream come true for everyone and to beat a quality side such as Colchester United and one of our nearest Football League sides in what was a real local derby was fantastic.
"I've watched them three times this season so I knew what to expect and I was just hoping our lads responded," he said. "We knew we had to press them hard from the start, nullify their key players and I picked my side with pace and that's what we had from the start. I was a bit worried and nervous when having deservedly taken a two-goal lead they get a goal back, and it's a tremendous free-kick from which they scored, because that gives the other side fresh impetus, but we kept believing in ourselves, playing our football, keeping our composure, which was important.
"The icing on the cake was Jamie Slabber's third goal and it showed what I've known all along, that's he a quality striker."
"When we were 1-0 up we might have stung them into a bit of action but we got our game plan spot on today. We knew we had to stop them playing. They're a really good side in good form. I'm delighted with how we went about our work and when we got the second goal you start to believe.
"This is just rewards for the last couple of years where we've reached the second round and – no disrespect to the sides we've played – they haven't been money spinners and the dream tie you expect. But today was a dream tie. My players were magnificent."
"This result really puts the club on the map again. I have a young side and for those players it was a great opportunity to put themselves in the shop window, and a chance of playing at a higher level."
Two-goal scorer Donovan Simmonds said: "I really can't believe it because I didn't expect to be in the starting line up and then I'm in there and score two goals and put the club into the next round – it's the greatest game of my life.
"I think I could have scored a hat-trick because had I been selfish for third goal I think I would have scored but I saw Jamie was in a better position than me and I'm glad I found him as he took his goal brilliantly.
"Up until this game I had not scored for City but I was always confident of my ability and knew if I scored one I'd score again," he said. "I hope I can now keep my place and score more goals.
"I want us all to enjoy the cup run, but getting promotion remains the top priority for everyone, although I want us to enjoy this cup run, because not many players have such a chance"
Tony Butcher, City's scoring legend, said: "It was a fantastic performance and a great victory. The players were outstanding and the better side won and they fully deserved it. They never let Colchester take hold of the game – I thought we'd do well to get a draw but the players showed great character and ability.
"After my 44-year wait to erase the memory of my game for City when we lost 2-0 to Colchester at home in the FA Cup, this performance couldn't have been better – that defeat has irked me over the years, now I feel much happier we've put the record straight. The players were magnificent."
U's manager Joe Dunne was full of praise for City's victory: "This is the worst day of my football career and I'll never really get over it. City fully deserved it on the day, they were the better side, played so well and made us look inferior. I've no excuses and good luck to them in the next round."
