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Harrogate's play-off push continues to gather momentum after they claimed a seventh win in 10 games against struggling Colchester.

Goals from Mark Beck, Will Smith and Josh McPake earned Town a comfortable victory.

The result meant the U's have now failed to score on the road for 10 hours and 35 minutes - a seven-match barren run that represents their worst sequence since becoming a Football League side in 1988.

Harrogate went in front after just 31 seconds when Beck curled the ball into Colchester goalkeeper Shamal George's bottom-right corner from 10 yards after being picked out in the penalty area by Lloyd Kerry.

Smith doubled the hosts' advantage in first-half stoppage time when the ball broke to him after Ryan Fallowfield had lofted a high ball into the box.

The former Barnsley defender demonstrated the composure of a striker, carrying the ball towards goal before prodding it past an advancing George from seven yards.

Colchester captain Tommy Smith scrambled an early second-half effort against a post, but McPake settled matters before the hour mark when he shot across goal from 10 yards after being picked out down the left channel by George Thomson.

Report supplied by PA Media.