Colchester United struck twice in the first half to beat Port Vale and claim victory in their first home game of the League Two season.

Goals from the impressive Courtney Senior and Ryan Jackson inside the opening 24 minutes paved the way for a satisfying win for John McGreal's side, who made it four points from their opening two games.

The U's were in control for much of the game and had chances to further extend their lead, with Frank Nouble going close three times in the second half.

Colchester head coach McGreal made two changes to his starting line-up for their game against Port Vale.

Kane Vincent-Young was recalled to the U’s starting line-up, after signing a new two-year deal last week.

Senior was also named in the Colchester side, having been on the bench for the Notts County draw.

Tom Eastman and Aaron Collins were both among the substitutes, along with Mikael Mandron.

Colchester started brightly and almost took a third-minute lead when Brennan Dickenson closed down James Gibbons’ clearance into Nouble’s path but Connell Rawlinson did well to avert the danger in the area for a corner.

The U’s were forced to defend themselves when Kane Vincent-Young did well to nod away for a corner at the far post with David Worrall bearing down, after Luke Hannant had crossed deep.

But Colchester took an eighth-minute lead through Senior, who picked up possession midway inside the Vale half and played a great one-two with Dickenson before coolly slotting low past keeper Scott Brown.

It was Senior’s fifth goal for Colchester and his first goal since scoring at Lincoln, last April.

It was almost 2-0 seconds later when Sammie Szmodics dragged a low shot wide of the far post after springing the offside trap to get on the end of Luke Prosser’s pass.

But Vale were not without their opportunities.

Worrall’s 25-yard strike flashed just over the upright and Colchester keeper Dillon Barnes did well at his near post to deny Tom Pope’s header.

However, Colchester doubled their lead midway through the first half when Jackson slotted home past Brown from 12 yards for his first goal in nearly ten months following Szmodics' superb back-heel, to round off a fine team move.

Ricky Miller drove a low free-kick straight at Barnes from 20 yards and Nathan Smith hooked a shot wide from close range for the visitors before the first half was out.

Colchester were worthy of their two-goal advantage at the break but Vale came close to reducing the deficit with the second half just seconds old, with Luke Hannant curling a shot just wide of the far post.

But Nouble fired three good opportunities over in the space of five minutes for Colchester soon after, before McGreal sent on Mikael Mandron and Aaron Collins in a bid to freshen things up.

Barnes had to make a good parry to foil substitute Leon Legge's fierce effort with 15 minutes remaining but at the other end, Mandron was inches away from connecting with Szmodics' low cross as the clock ticked down.

Brown got down well to save Collins' low shot in the closing minutes, as Colchester claimed a deserved win.