COLCHESTER United boosted their hopes of League Two survival with a vital 2-1 win over Walsall this evening.

The U’s are now six points above the relegation zone with four games remaining, after first-half goals from Michael Folivi and Ryan Clampin cancelled out James Clarke’s opener for the visitors, to seal a crucial win.

It was Colchester’s first win in 11 matches and was well-deserved, after a much-improved display at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Colchester interim head coach Hayden Mullins made three changes to his starting line-up.

Shamal George, Michael Folivi and Noah Chilvers were all recalled, with Dean Gerken, Courtney Senior and Tom Lapslie dropping to the bench.

Folivi, making his first start since March 9, played alongside Frank Nouble in a 4-4-2 formation.

Colchester made a bright start and were desperately unlucky not to take a tenth-minute lead when Callum Harriott’s left-foot curled effort came back off a post after he had played a great one-two with Folivi in the area.

But Walsall began to warm to the task and only a well-timed challenge in the six-yard box from Miles Welch-Hayes denied Emmanuel Osadebe what looked a certain goal, after he had been picked out in space by Tyreik Wright.

And from the resultant corner, Colchester fell behind in the 20th minute when defender James Clarke turned home at the far post, after Caolan Lavery had helped on Wright’s corner.

Colchester tried to find a way back into the contest and almost equalised just after the half hour when Folivi’s acrobatic effort in the six-yard box flew just wide of the far post, after Chilvers had crossed from the right.

And the U’s did get back on level terms in the 37th minute through Folivi, who stabbed in from near the goal-line for his first goal since December after Nouble’s effort had bounced back off the post, following good play by Tom Eastman.

Colchester pushed for another goal before half-time and almost got one when Walsall left-back Max Melbourne’s sliced attempted clearance spun just over the bar for a corner, before Folivi steered a low shot just wide of the far post, after exchanging passes with Nouble in the area.

And on the stroke of half-time, the U’s did take the lead when Ryan Clampin’s left-foot volley flew past keeper Jack Rose following a clearance to the edge of the area, to give the left-back his first league goal for Colchester and ensure the hosts had the advantage at the break.

The U’s were forced into a change at half-time, with the injured Harriott replaced by Ben Stevenson and Chilvers switching to a left-sided midfield role, as a result.

Chilvers sent a low, long-range effort straight at Rose from the edge of the area in the opening minutes of the second half.

And just before the hour, Colchester claimed they had scored through Folivi’s far-post effort which they felt had gone over the line before Rose had collected, after Nouble had helped on a corner at the near post.

Wiredu fired a good chance over the bar from a good position after dispossessing substitute Alfie Bates in a dangerous area, before the U’s made a double change bringing on Courtney Senior and Jevani Brown for Folivi and Wiredu.

Walsall rarely threatened as the clock ticked down and Nouble’s downward header almost sealed it for Colchester, in the closing stages.

Walsall felt they should have a penalty in stoppage-time following Clampin's challenge on Mat Sadler in the area.

But a one-goal margin proved enough for the U’s, as they secured a hugely important victory.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Welch-Hayes, Smith, Eastman, Clampin, Chilvers (sub Lapslie, 90), Pell, Wiredu (sub Brown, 77), Folivi (sub Senior, 77), Harriott (sub Stevenson, 46), Nouble.

Subs (not used): Doherty, Sowunmi, Gerken.

Walsall: Rose, Melbourne, Sadler, Clarke, Perry, Kinsella (sub Bates, 61), White, Wright (sub McDonald, 61), Lavery, Gordon, Osadebe (sub Osei-Yaw, 88).

Subs (not used): Norman, Bates, Leak, Willis, Roberts.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

Goals: Colchester: Folivi (37), Clampin (45). Walsall: Clarke (20).

Bookings: Colchester: Pell (foul, 27), Wiredu (foul, 50), George (unsporting behaviour, 62). Walsall: Wright (foul, 45).