COLCHESTER United turned on the style to sweep aside Carlisle United this afternoon.

A much-changed U's side produced an excellent all-round display to extend their unbeaten League Two run to seven matches, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Goals from Callum Harriott, Cohen Bramall and Nathanial Knight-Percival's own goal gave Colchester a big victory, to boost their hopes of a top-seven finish.

The only downside to the afternoon from a U's perspective was the sight of skipper Luke Prosser limping off late on with an injury, which will be a worry for them ahead of the busy festive programme.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made five changes to his side for their game against Carlisle.

Goalkeeper Ethan Ross was handed his first league start since the final day of last season, while there were also recalls to the starting line-up for Ben Stevenson, Luke Gambin, Kwame Poku and Theo Robinson.

Tom Lapslie and Frank Nouble dropped to the bench, while Dean Gerken, Brandon Comley and Luke Norris did not feature at all.

Despite the unpredictable surface and the changes to their line-up, Colchester produced a dominant first-half display.

In the opening minutes, Harry Pell exchanged passes with Robinson before attempting a long-range shot that flew well wide of the upright.

But Carlisle did threaten too, with Tom Eastman making a good block from Nathan Thomas’s goalbound shot after Aaron Hayden’s deep cross and Ross making a good full-stretch save at his near post from Hallam Hope.

Hope’s deflected low shot sailed just wide of the far post for the visitors after Ryan Loft had picked him out.

But the U’s looked the more dangerous of the two sides, with Gambin just unable to squeeze the ball home from close range after being found by Bramall’s cross, following Robinson’s clever flick.

And Colchester took a 26th minute lead when Bramall did brilliantly down the left flank again and delivered a low cross that went in off Carlisle defender Knight-Percival from close range.

It was almost 2-0 just before the half hour when Harriott’s deflected low strike was pushed away by keeper Adam Collin for a corner.

Collin also saved Pell's close-range header and after Ross had saved Loft’s shot at the second attempt, the U’s scored a second goal.

Harriott slotted home from close range in the 42nd minute, having been quickest to react after Collin had beaten away Kwame Poku’s fierce strike.

Robinson should have added a third for Colchester just before the break when he blasted over a good chance after Byron Webster had made a mess of defending a long punt forward.

But Colchester went in at the break in command and they showed no let up in the second half.

Collin saved from Harriott before the U’s went 3-0 up in the 52nd minute through Bramall, who struck a superb 25-yard free-kick over the wall, past keeper Collin and in.

Collin pushed away Robinson's close-range effort midway through the second half and Ryan Jackson's 30-yard strike flew inches wide of the far post, as Colchester pushed for a fourth goal.

But the U's had to settle for a three-goal margin of victory, as they went into the busy festive schedule in confident mood following a big win.