Stockport manager Dave Challinor challenged his side to become record-breakers after claiming their 12th consecutive league victory.

The Hatters’ 2-0 triumph over Colchester was hard-fought but saw them equal the record for most successive wins in the fourth tier set by Luton in 2002.

County narrowly missed out on promotion to League One last season, falling at the last hurdle in a play-off final penalty shoot-out defeat to Carlisle, but they look determined to go up automatically this term after establishing a six-point lead at the top of the table.

And Challinor has his sights set high.

“The important thing is now that we have the opportunity to break a record in a week,” said the Stockport boss, whose team go to Newport next.

“I look further in terms of the record for most consecutive wins ever in the football league. We weren’t at our best today but we found a way which is pleasing.”

Stockport, who saw their 13-match winning streak in all competitions ended in midweek after losing to Bolton in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, had to wait to make the breakthrough against Colchester with Kyle Wootton putting them ahead on the stroke of half-time.

But they needed just a minute of the second half to double their advantage through substitute Callum Camps and Colchester could find no way back.

Challinor said: “I spoke in the sponsors lounge before the game and there is an expectancy to win easily but that’s never the case. You’ve got to earn the right.

“I was disappointed with our first-half performance, we could be prepared in a couple of ways around what their shape would be and how to deal with it.

“Many people played backwards, didn’t want to receive the ball or play forwards and that’s the disappointing thing for me. On the one occasion we did play forward we scored.

“Teams are going to make it difficult for us because of the position we are in. That’s always been the case. But you have to control what happens on the grass otherwise edginess sets in which it did.

“We try and be consistent with our messaging to the players and the performances we ask of them. But they’re very much accountable themselves and take plenty of ownership in the standards they set.”

Visitors Colchester had come into the came with 10 points from their previous four league matches and can take many positives from their performance, they frustrated the hosts physically but ultimately could not put away their chances.

Manager Matthew Etherington was only placed in permanent charge this week following a successful interim spell with the Essex-based side.

“The manner in which we conceded today is probably the biggest disappointment but we gave Stockport a real game and I was pleased with a lot of aspects of the performance,” Etherington said.

“When their keeper is getting man of the match at the end of the game you obviously know that you have threatened their team and there isn’t many teams that come here and do that.

“That was the pleasing thing. Yes we lost 2-0 but there are positives.

“We hit the woodwork in the first half and Jayden (Fevrier) does brilliant initially so yeah probably does deserve a goal.

“We played a different way to try to combat what they do and it worked well for large periods of the first half.

“It’s disappointing to concede right before half-time. It looked offside but it was tight so the attacker gets the benefit of the doubt.

“It’s a real uphill task after that but credit to the players their desire to keep going. Some of the football we played first and second half was really good.

“I’m liking what I’m seeing the past four league games and in the FA Cup.

“There were some real positives today, bravery on the ball, aggressive in and out of possession.”