COLCHESTER United battled to a creditable away point tonight after drawing 0-0 at Harrogate Town.

The U's claimed a second successive clean sheet in League Two, after a hard-fought contest at the Exercise Stadium.

Defences were largely on top throughout the clash, with neither side able to break the deadlock in North Yorkshire.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley named an unchanged starting line-up for the third successive match.

Tyreece Simpson, signed on loan from Stevenage on Monday, was among the substitutes.

It was a quiet opening to proceedings on a cold and misty night in North Yorkshire, with both sides trying hard to stamp their mark on the contest.

Chances were few and far between in the first half, although Ellis Iandolo did hook a shot wide of the target off balance for Colchester midway through the first half, after Fiacre Kelleher had helped Payne's corner into his path in the area.

Harrogate then went close soon after, with Dean Cornelius's shot from Josh March's pass flashing just wide of the near post for the hosts.

And the Sulphurites were almost gifted an opener on the half hour when James Daly fired wide from 20 yards out, after Colchester striker Lyle Taylor had conceded possession midway inside his own half when attempting to find Mandela Egbo's run.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

The U’s looked the more threatening in the first half which ended goal-less but Harrogate almost broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when Josh March was sent through on goal by Jack Muldoon's fine pass but fired a low shot wide of the far post.

And Colchester were rather fortunate not to concede a penalty when March was brought down by Iandolo on the edge of the area after a mistake by McDonnell and a free-kick, rather than a penalty, was awarded.

Morris's fierce resultant free-kick was brilliantly pushed away by Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey for a corner prompting U's boss Cowley to make a double change just after the hour mark, sending on debutant Simpson and Arthur Read for Taylor and Teddy Bishop.

Harry Anderson's shot fizzed past the near post from 20 yards for Colchester while at the other end, Harrogage substitute Ellis Taylor went close with a half volley, as both sides pushed for a winner but the spoils were shared.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Macey, Egbo, Kelleher, Flanagan, Iandolo, McDonnell, Bishop (sub Simpson, 63), Anderson (sub Thorn, 81), Payne, Edwards (sub Gordon, 81), Taylor (sub Read, 64).

Substitutes (not used): Goodliffe, Terry, Smith.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Moon, Burrell, Cornelius (sub Duke-McKenna, 74), Daly (sub Muldoon, 71), Sims (sub Bilongo, 74), O'Connor, Sutton (sub Solomon, 80), Muldoon (sub Taylor, 71), March, Morris.

Substitutes (not used): Dooley.

Referee: Scott Tallis.

Bookings: Harrogate: Daly (foul, 28), Sims (foul, 36), Sutton (foul, 57).

Attendance: 2,284 (162 U's fans).