Kian Spence scored in first-half stoppage-time and Sam Foley in added-time in the second half as Barrow boosted their Sky Bet League Two promotion hopes with a 2-0 win over struggling Colchester.

Spence curled in a right-footed free-kick to register his seventh goal of the campaign but Pete Wild’s side were made to work hard for their second home 2-0 win in five days.

Danny Cowley’s visitors, beaten for only the second time in nine games, enjoyed the majority of possession.

However, they struggled to turn it into meaningful goal threats, although Tom Hopper did force Bluebirds goalkeeper and skipper Paul Farman into one first-half stop.

Farman, who was under Cowley’s management at Lincoln, was at full stretch to deny Cameron McGeehan in the second half.

Barrow defended resolutely towards the end of a win that keeps them in the play-off picture.

And as relegation threatened United pushed for an equaliser, the Bluebirds broke away and Ben Whitfield squared the ball for Foley to finish from close range.