MIKAEL Mandron's first goal in nearly nine months helped Colchester United see off Macclesfield Town and consolidate their place in League Two's top three.

Mandron struck just before the half hour to seal victory for the U's over the division's bottom club and make it seven points from a possible nine, in their last three games.

Colcherster head coach John McGreal kept the same starting line-up that beat Forest Green Rovers.

But there was a welcome return on the bench for joint leading scorer Luke Norris, who returned after a month out with an ankle injury.

Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin was also among the substitutes, after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Macclesfield, managed for the first time in the league by former England defender Sol Campbell, went close in the fifth minute when Elliott Durrell picked up possession 30 yards from goal before trying his luck with an effort that dropped just wide of the far post.

But it was Colchester who made the brighter start against a Macclesfield defence that looked nervy early on.

Frank Nouble’s curled effort from the edge of the area was plucked out of the air by keeper Kieran O’Hara while soon after, Ryan Jackson’s fierce 25-yard effort was also saved by the Macclesfield custodian.

O'Hara then pushed away Courtney Senior’s deflected shot following Harry Pell’s short free-kick but the visitors almost took a 15th minute lead against the run of play.

Danny Whitaker’s fierce long-range strike was parried away by Dillon Barnes while seconds later, Durrell headed over under pressure from two yards from Ryan Lloyd’s cross.

But Colchester looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

Mandron’s fierce shot from a tight angle was pushed away by O’Hara after Nouble had done really well to hold off two players and pick him out.

And McGreal's men eventually made the breakthrough in the 29th minute.

Mandron drove a low left-foot shot past O'Hara and in after being picked out by Jackson on the edge of the box, for his first goal since March.

Colchester went on the hunt for more goals after that.

Sammie Szmodics fired over from 30 yards after Mandron and Tom Lapslie had linked up well to set him up.

And just before half-time, Pell’s 25-yard free-kick flashed inches wide of the upright as Colchester went in at the break ahead.

Mandron's header was plucked from under the bar by keeper O'Hara following Jackson's cross, just after the break.

But Macclesfield enjoyed plenty of possession after that, with the U's at times struggling to get out of their own half.

And the visitors almost levelled midway through the second period when Fiacre Kelleher's header flashed inches wide from James Pearson's accurate cross.

The Silkmen stayed in the game but Colchester successfully saw the game out to pick up three more valuable points.