Colchester made it back-to-back league victories for the first time this season with a 3-1 triumph at Harrogate.
Goals from John Akinde, Noah Chilvers and Junior Tchamadeu ensured the Essex side built on their 1-0 New Year’s Day victory over Swindon and pulled further clear of the relegation zone.
Luke Armstrong’s eighth goal in nine outings proved the only highlight of the afternoon for the hosts.
The visitors forged ahead in the 12th minute when Tchamadeu pulled the ball back from the right byline and Akinde took a touch before side-footing powerfully inside Pete Jameson’s far post from 15 yards.
Harrogate almost leveled immediately when Danny Grant rattled an upright and Alex Pattison’s follow-up effort was well saved by Kieran O’Hara.
Instead, Colchester doubled their advantage just past the quarter-hour mark when Tom Dallison rose high to help a Luke Chambers free-kick into the box and Chilvers’ close-range downward header beat Jameson.
Matt Bloomfield’s men made it 3-0 early in the second period after Harrogate full-back Kayne Ramsay carelessly gave the ball away.
Samson Tovide powered past Rory McArdle and Warren Burrell through the left channel before unselfishly squaring for Tchamadeu to find an inviting net from 10 yards.
The hosts grabbed a 77th-minute consolation as Armstrong bundled the ball in from a yard out after Grant’s cross from the left.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Harrogate
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 21Jameson
- 20RamsayBooked at 7mins
- 23McArdle
- 6Burrell
- 15Headley
- 7ThomsonBooked at 60minsSubstituted forAngusat 73′minutes
- 4Falkingham
- 16pattison
- 9GrantSubstituted forFrostat 82′minutes
- 12FolarinSubstituted forMuldoonat 45′minutes
- 29Armstrong
Substitutes
- 1Oxley
- 2Welch-Hayes
- 8Angus
- 11Wright
- 17Austerfield
- 18Muldoon
- 19Frost
Colchester
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 13O’Hara
- 4ChambersBooked at 45mins
- 5SmithBooked at 90mins
- 6Dallison-Lisbon
- 22Tchamadeu
- 8SkuseSubstituted forReadat 82′minutes
- 17Ashley
- 30KazeemSubstituted forwoodat 74′minutes
- 14ChilversBooked at 50minsSubstituted forHannantat 74′minutes
- 24AkindeSubstituted forSearsat 90+5′minutes
- 34TovidSubstituted forNewbyat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Hornby
- 7Hannant
- 11Sears
- 15Kelleher
- 16Read
- 19Newby
- 23wood
- Referees:
- Darren Handley
- Attendance:
- 2.144
Live Text
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Match ends, Harrogate Town 1, Colchester United 3.
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Second Half ends, Harrogate Town 1, Colchester United 3.
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Warren Burrell (Harrogate Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Freddie Sears (Colchester United).
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Substitution, Colchester United. Freddie Sears replaces John Akinde.
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Corners, Colchester United. Licensed by Warren Burrell.
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Corners, Colchester United. Granted by Jaheim Headley.
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Offside, Colchester United. John Akinde tries a through ball, but Junior Tchamadeu is caught offside.
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Corners, Colchester United. Granted by Jaheim Headley.
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Attempt saved. Rory McArdle (Harrogate Town) header from the center of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Falkingham.
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Tommy Smith (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Dior Angus (Harrogate Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tommy Smith (Colchester United).
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Attempt missed. Warren Burrell (Harrogate Town) header from the center of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jaheim Headley with a cross following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Dior Angus (Harrogate Town) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kayne Ramsay with a cross.
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Corner, Harrogate Town. Granted by Tommy Smith.
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Jaheim Headley (Harrogate Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by John Akinde (Colchester United).
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Foul by Josh Falkingham (Harrogate Town).
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John Akinde (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.