George Elokobi's spectacular strike helped Colchester United beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 and move into the League Two play-off spaces.

Elokobi netted his first goal of the season from 25 yards to get the U's back to winning ways, after two successive defeats.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made four changes to his starting line-up for their game against Wycombe.

Sean Murray was handed his first start in U’s colours after he returned from a three-match suspension, while youngster Cameron James made his maiden senior start.

Matt Briggs and Chris Porter also returned to the side, with Alex Wynter and Kane Vincent-Young dropping to the bench and Craig Slater (groin) and Denny Johnstone (knee) becoming the latest U’s players to miss out due to injury.

Colchester lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kurtis Guthrie playing on the right and Porter as their main striker.

Brennan Dickenson latched onto Owen Garvan’s pass and flew past Wycombe defender Michael Harriman before drilling a low shot past the far post.

And Colchester took a 13th-minute lead through George Elokobi, who picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and curled a superb shot over stranded keeper Jamal Blackman and in.

Wycombe responded well to the setback and Colchester keeper Sam Walker was called upon to palm away Paris Cowan-Hall’s fine delivery at full stretch in his six-yard box.

And midway through the first half, Walker was called upon again to palm over Cowan-Hall’s effort for a corner, after confusion in the U’s defence.

Alex Jakubiak’s low cross-shot flashed dangerously across the U’s six-yard box on the half hour while two minutes before half-time, Adebayo Akinfenwa blasted over at the second attempt from close range after his first effort was blocked as the U’s went in ahead at the break.

Wycombe went close again in the opening minutes of the second half when Akinfenwa’s weak header was saved by Walker from close range, after Sam Saunders had curled the ball into the area.

Colchester found it difficult to make an impression in the final third and Wycombe went close again when Elokobi made a fine acrobatic goal-line clearance to deny Cowan-Hall after the Wycombe midfielder had bulldozed his way into the area.

Walker then pulled off a sharp save at his near post to deny Akinfenwa but Colchester were not without their opportunities themselves and midway through the second half, keeper Blackman made a superb low save down to his left to palm Guthrie’s fine effort around the post for a corner.

Wycombe were reduced to ten men with two minutes remaining when Joe Jacobson received a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Tarique Fosu and substitute Drey Wright headed off the line late on, as the U’s held out for victory.