Colchester United made it eight wins from eleven home fixtures this season as they saw off the spirited challenge of Macclesfield Town.

The early periods of the game suggested it could have been a very one sided affair and it seemed only a matter of time until the U's got their first goal, which eventually came just before the half hour mark through Mikael Mandron.

But the second half was a much closer affair as the visitors saw more of the ball without testing Dillon Barnes.

And the U's stood strong to see off the Silkmen and pick up yet another 1-0 win.

Macclesfield had the first effort on goal as Durrell cut in off the wing and bent in a shot that went just past the far post.

At the other end, both Nouble and Jackson had whipped efforts that Kieran O'Hara saved, with Senior also having a third effort as the visiting keeper was kept busy early on.

The visitors had to repel a good ten minutes of pressure before having two chances of their own, with Whitaker stinging Barnes' fingertips and Durrell heading over from six yards out.

The Silkmen had grown in confidence in that period, but it was the U's who went close next with a great flowing move, started with Nouble's strength, and ending with Mandron forcing a good stop out of O'Hara.

The U's eventually got their noses in front on the half hour mark. It was a long ball forward from Kent into the channels, which was superbly controlled by Szmodics.

He and Jackson combined to set up Mandron, who drilled home a left footed finish to beat O'Hara and give the U's the lead.

The Frenchman did more good work on 35 minutes, holding up the ball and setting up Szmodics, but he lifted his effort well over.

They went close to a second on 39 minutes as Vincent-Young to the edge of the box was halted abruptly 25 yards out, but Pell's free kick went just wide.

Three minutes before the break, Vincent-Young embarked on another run forward and got into a good position, but his shot lacked conviction.

Leading by one at the break, the U's almost got a second shortly after the restart, but Mandron couldn't get enough on his header to test O'Hara.

The U's next went close from Szmodics as he beat the offside trap, but he pulled his shot off target, as he lacked his usual ruthlessness on 55 minutes.

The half became a little bit gritty, as Macclesfield looked to find a path to goal and the U's began to grind it out to ensure they wouldn't give up their lead.

Macclesfield should have equalised when, after a good spell of pressure, Kelleher glanced Stevens' cross wide of the far post.

The U's made their changes as Dickenson, Norris and Comley replaced Senior, Mandron and Szmodics during the course of the second half.

Former U's man Rose went into the book with five minutes to go, for a late challenge on Dickenson.

As injury time got underway, Vincent-Young embarked on another run forward and he couldn't quite get his shot away.

But the U's held firm as Macclesfield made one final hurrah to try and get level, and picked up another crucial three points in their quest for promotion.

Attendance: 3.099 (91 away)