Sam Folarin’s second-half strike sealed a 1-0 smash-and-grab win for Harrogate at Colchester.

Colchester went close in the 11th minute when Teddy Bishop’s curled free-kick was brilliantly tipped away by Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw for a corner.

Tom Flanagan headed over the bar for the hosts, who went close again when Belshaw pushed away Samson Tovide’s powerful shot for a corner.

Zico Asare’s close-range header flew straight at Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey, but Colchester were dominant before half-time and John-Kymani Gordon dragged a shot wide of the far post from a good position.

The hosts felt they should have had a penalty just before the hour mark when Tovide was pulled back by Matty Foulds in the area following Gordon’s delivery, while Belshaw made another fine stop to deny Tovide from point-blank range soon after.

Harrogate grabbed a 68th-minute winner when a breakdown in communication in the Colchester area between goalkeeper Macey and Rob Hunt resulted in Folarin nipping in and tapping into an empty net.