COLCHESTER United boosted their League Two play-off hopes with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Carlisle United this afternoon.

Kwame Poku's brace and Luke Norris's strike gave the U's an impressive victory in boss John McGreal's 200th game in charge, lifting them up to sixth spot in the table.

Colchester made three changes to their side for the game at Carlisle, watched by nearly 150 U's fans in Cumbria.

Norris, Frank Nouble and Tom Eastman all returned to the starting line-up in place of Brandon Comley, Theo Robinson and the suspended Omar Sowunmi.

It was a highly encouraging first-half performance from Colchester, who registered an impressive seven shots on target and six corners in the opening 45 minutes.

But it was Carlisle who registered the game's first meaningful effort on goal in the fifth minute.

Nick Anderton's shot from the edge of the box flew just wide, after Max Hunt had headed Elliot Watt's corner down.

But the U's responded well and Norris came close when he just stumbled at the wrong moment as he was about to pounce on Ryan Jackson's cross and Hunt cleared.

Colchester forced a number of corners in the opening stages but they had a narrow escape in the 19th minute when Harry McKirdy's flicked effort flew narrowly wide, from Gethin Jones' delivery.

Carlisle keeper Adam Collin beat away Norris's 20-yard drive soon after before Colchester came very close to taking a 24th-minute lead through Norris.

The striker's effort was blocked brilliantly by Gethin Jones after fine play by Nouble and Harry Pell had helped set up the striker.

U's skipper Luke Prosser made a fine challenge to deny McKirdy, soon after.

But Colchester almost went ahead in the 33rd minute through Cohen Bramall's 25-yard free-kick which was tipped over brilliantly by keeper Collin for a corner.

The U's went agonisingly close again from a set-piece a few minutes later when Collin made another fantastic save to push away Nouble's header from another Bramall corner.

But seconds after Collin had pushed away Norris's effort, the U's finally took a deserved lead.

Poku finished superbly with a curled left-foot shot into the far corner of the net off the inside of a post, after Jackson had collected Nouble's pass and picked out the teenager.

And things got even better for Colchester less than three minutes later when Norris powered home a close-range header from yet another corner, to score his 11th goal of the season.

Bramall rattled the crossbar with a superb free-kick after that, as the U's went in at the break in control.

Callum Harriott bent a shot just wide for Colchester in the opening stages of the second half, before the visitors extended their lead just before the hour.

Stevenson tried a one-two with Nouble before the ball ran to Poku, whose low volley from the edge of the box spun into the net leaving keeper Collin with no chance.

Carlisle tried desperately to find a route back into the game and Anderton saw a low shot go wide, from the edge of the box.

But Collin denied Nouble with his feet and Pell's long-range effort dipped just wide, as the U's went in search of more goals.

Colchester keeper Dean Gerken was called into action to save Jon Mellish's header but the visitors were worthy winners.

MATCH STATS:

Colchester United goals: Poku (41, 59), Norris (43).

Carlisle United goals: None.

Colchester United bookings: None.

Carlisle United bookings: Anderton (foul, 49).

Colchester United: Gerken, Jackson, Eastman, Prosser, Bramall, Poku (sub Gambin, 87), Pell, Stevenson, Harriott (sub Senior, 82), Nouble, Norris (sub Robinson, 85).

Substitutes (not used): Clampin, Welch-Hayes, Comley, Ross.

Carlisle United: Collin, Anderton, Hunt, Hayden, M Jones, Mellish, Patrick (sub Bridge, 79), G Jones, Watt (sub Kayode, 46), McKirdy, Alessandra.

Subs (not used): Iredale, Charters, Loft, Sogaf, Dewhurst.

U's man of the match: Kwame Poku.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Attendance: 3,769 (146 U's fans).

NEXT UP: Colchester United v Scunthorpe United, League Two, Saturday, 3pm.